2025 marks 50 years of the Murdock Trust’s partnership with Pacific Northwest nonprofits. Our benefactor, Jack Murdock, loved this region for its natural beauty, innovative spirit, and committed communities. Today, we celebrate the legacy of partnership in the state of Alaska – a state which Jack served through his Piper Cub Distributorship, is home to abundant natural beauty that Jack celebrated, and plays a central role in the unique ecosystem that allows the Pacific Northwest to thrive as a region.
From glacial vistas to vast forests, snowy landscapes to viewpoints of volcanoes, Alaskan terrain is as richly varied as the people who live there and visit. Thousands of years of Indigenous communities remaining connected to their land and cultural heritage have preserved a beauty and a way of life that has been so often lost elsewhere. Especially in recent decades, Alaskan nonprofits have played a crucial role in protecting and celebrating this way of life, while working in innovative and sustainable ways toward the flourishing of all Alaskan communities.
The Murdock Trust has been honored to partner with many of these nonprofits over the last fifty years. As organizations have built capacity to best support their local communities, the Trust has had the opportunity to fund more than $88 million in Alaska through 447 grants.
Here is a small sampling of the work being done in this majestic state through the commitment of local nonprofits.
Organizations like Alaska Native Heritage Center, Alutiiq Museum, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Alaska State Fair, and so many others are promoting active celebration and observance of Alaska Native culture and traditions.
Nonprofits like Denali Education Center, Alaska SeaLife Center, Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, Sitka Sound Science Center, and others are using Alaska’s abundant access to the great outdoors to teach all generations how to best care for the earth.
Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Juneau Arts & Humanities Council, and Alaska Center for the Performing Arts are several of the organizations creating space for creative engagement and artistic expression across the state.
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Pacific University, University of Alaska Anchorage, and other institutions of higher education are investing in scientific research for the common good of Alaska and its people.
Partners for Progress, Alaska Black Caucus, Teal Street Center, and Alaska Institute for Justice are just a few of the nonprofits working to strengthen pathways to flourishing for all Alaskans – especially those historically or currently in disadvantaged situations.
Organizations like Girdwood Health Clinic, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, All Alaska Pediatric Partnership, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, and other nonprofits are ensuring all Alaskan communities – no matter how remote – have access to life-saving healthcare.
While there is no way to name all those who have been part of our five decades of collaboration in Alaska, we offer sincere gratitude to all who play a role in working toward the common good across this state’s vibrant communities. Here’s to fifty more years of meaningful partnerships!