M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Alaska

Living Into the New Normal

Over the last few years we’ve all heard a lot about living into “the new normal.” It’s a term that reflects a new era, incorporating something that was once unfamiliar or atypical into our daily lives. Researchers suggest that the term dates back to 2008 as a way to talk about life after the financial collapse that preceded the Great Recession. It has been applied in various settings since then, from adapting to a world where social media drives our discourse to urging communities to anticipate more severe wildfire seasons every summer.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic gained a new level of permanence as our “new normal” in 2023 when global health agencies declared the public health emergency period of the pandemic over alongside the broad deployment of vaccinations and treatments for the virus. Companies that at one time declared they would be remote “forever” began ushering employees back into the office. Travel restrictions, social distancing, supply chain issues – all hallmarks of our shared pandemic experience – seemed to officially (and hopefully) be behind us. In many ways, life resumed its natural rhythms but now with the understanding that the virus was not going away; it would be part of our everyday lives.

It’s easy to consider the idea of the new normal in a negative light. So often when we think of a new normal it is because a tragedy has forced us to reconsider common practices, be it a global pandemic, an economic earthquake, or an increase in deadly fires. But it’s also possible to consider ways in which a new normal can be a positive or a reason for hope. For example, advances in human rights have led to a brighter, more optimistic future for countless communities through the years. Technological innovations have ushered in bright new periods of improved quality of life and prosperity. Medical discoveries like penicillin and the polio vaccine have removed great threats from daily life. And despite so much work ahead of us to alleviate poverty, we have made progress.

A common theme for me throughout this year has been the concept of renewal. This idea has extended itself to our work at the Trust. The concept centers around taking a tested foundation and finding ways to improve upon it. After decades of service to our region, we continue to look for ways to improve service to our grantees. We designed and implemented a new sectoral strategy to significantly increase the impact our investments can have in the areas we serve and drive greater clarity for those seeking funding from the Trust. We adopted new technologies that increase efficiency in how we work, creating a better experience for those we support. We sought to reset our baseline, which has meant revisiting and updating how we define impact and how we will use both metrics and data to help define success for our future. Finally, we considered the future of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector to better define our generative framework, strategy, and engagement models.

I am proud of this team and the work we have done together. I am also grateful for our broader philanthropic community. Our work was not done in a vacuum. Collaboration, insight, and engagement with fellow funders, nonprofits, and business and community leaders have all helped shape our thinking and our strategy. The historic events of the last few years have set off reflection and change across the philanthropic community. They have pushed all of us in the social sector to understand how we can harness the new tools and emerging technologies coming to market that will help us better serve the common good. We are excited to be part of this conversation and the movement to progress together so that every individual, family, and community has an opportunity to flourish and thrive. It is a bright day with a brighter tomorrow ahead.

We often reflect that, at the Murdock Trust, the fruit of our labor grows on the trees of others. In this report, you will see a small snapshot of this concept come to life: hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals working to uplift and serve the diverse needs of our region, many of whom are doing so in ways adapted to address the new normal. It is a beautiful garden of goodness. I want to thank those who have partnered with us leading up to and throughout 2023 and those we will walk alongside moving forward. We are excited to see what the new normal has in store for our work and for what we can accomplish together.

In gratitude,

Romanita Hairston
Chief Executive Officer

From the CEO

A Look
Back at
2023

$96m

Total Granted

378

Grants Awarded

1750

Program Participants

$36.1m

to Arts, Culture, & Education

$29.8m

to Civic Engagement & Community Services

$17.5m

to Health & Environmental Stewardship

$2.0m

to Nonprofit Leadership & Development

$10.8m

to Scientific Research

Five Valleys Land Trust, Montana
University of Portland, Oregon

Initiative Grants

In addition to our application-based Strategic Project grants, the Murdock Trust awards various Initiative Grants aligned with sector priorities and by invite only. These Initiative Grants fund ecosystem-level interventions that drive specific capacity or growth within the sector. They seek to affect positive change across the entire nonprofit ecosystem that benefits communities long into the future. See a sampling of our Initiative Grants below and join us in thanking all those who participated in these programs.

Total Initiative giving in 2023: $11,937,071 through 126 grants

Ongoing Initiatives:
Board Development
Capacity Building Support
Commercialization Initiation
Faculty Start-Up
Murdock College Science Research Program
Natural Sciences – Life
Natural Sciences – Physical
Partners in Science –Regular
Partners in Science – Supplemental
Strengthening Democracy
Vision and Call Internships
One-Time Initiatives: 
COVID-19 Arts & Culture Resilience Fund
COVID-19 Refugee Initiative
COVID-19 Youth Well-Being Initiative
COVID-19 Mental Health Innovation
Leading Through Change
Team Building Care and Development Initiative

Nonprofits at Work

Our work at the Murdock Trust would not be possible without the hundreds of nonprofits we are proud to partner with across the Pacific Northwest. These organizations serve countless individuals and communities across sectors. Below is just a fraction of the many incredible organizations that received a grant or participated in our programming in 2023.

Filter State or Sector

All Grantees

Alaska
Idaho
Montana
Oregon
Washington
British Columbia
National
Arts, Culture, & Education
Civic Engagement & Community Services
Health & Environmental Stewardship
Nonprofit Leadership & Development
Scientific Research

Alutiiq Heritage Foundation

The Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository (AMAR) preserves and shares the heritage and living culture of Alaska’s Alutiiq people. While AMAR primarily serves the city of Kodiak and six rural villages, all are invited to participate in its programs. These programs include exhibits, events, publications, and research that encourage the return of Alutiiq heritage to public awareness, help Native people live their culture with dignity, and advance a more accurate community dialog on local history. As the museum has grown to meet demand, it identified a need for museum facility expansions, which the Trust was pleased to support with a grant in 2023.

$750K

Nome Community Center

For over a century, Nome Community Center (NCC) has provided collaborative, community-focused support to enhance quality of life in the Bering Strait region of Alaska. Today, NCC provides a wide range of services and programming, including Nome Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club, Alcohol Safety Action Program, XYZ Senior Center, and Homeless Prevention. Trust funding supported construction costs for Nome’s Housing First project. This will be modeled after an evidence-based supportive housing initiative aimed at providing permanent housing for individuals in states of homelessness who struggle to succeed in traditional housing.

$471K

Alaska Trails

For more than twenty years, Alaska Trails has been working to enhance the Alaska trail experience by supporting sustainable, world-renowned trails throughout the state. It does this work through advocacy, education, and technical assistance, and is supported by thousands of volunteer hours across hundreds of trail projects. Since COVID-19, trail use has been greater than ever, contributing to this nonprofit’s growth. A Trust grant partially funded a Program Officer to oversee the paid trail crew and volunteer programs. This position will create a more sustainable future for the nonprofit and invite more Alaskans into caring for their state’s trails.

$134K

Alaska Pacific University

Alaska Pacific University is the only private, nonprofit, fully accredited university in the state. A Murdock Trust College Research Program grant is supporting research into water resources stored within Dixon Glacier on the Kenai Peninsula. This research and its applications could help increase the water supply to Bradley Lake, the site of the state’s largest hydroelectric project. This could in turn provide hydroelectric power generation to more homes from Homer to Fairbanks. Not only is this critical research for maximizing the hydropower potential of Alaska’s glaciers, but it welcomes undergraduate students into the process and prepares them for potential scientific careers.

$70K

Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County is one of the largest providers of out-of-school programming for youth from low-income backgrounds in Ada County. In addition to academic enrichment programs and summer programs, club staff care for the holistic health and wellbeing of their participants by providing nutritious food options, free counseling on-site, and intentional character development opportunities. Trust funding for a new clubhouse in the Kuna School District will expand their services at that location to welcome more than 1,200 children and teens, tripling their existing capacity and offering new opportunities such as early childcare services.

$375K

ARCH Community Housing

ARCH Community Housing Trust (ARCH) provides affordable housing options for educators in Blaine County, ID. Due to a sharp rise in housing costs, the local school district has been unable to hire enough staff; the annual income needed to rent a 3-bedroom home is 284% of a starting teacher’s salary. In response to this critical problem, ARCH supports school district households by calculating rent that is no more than 30% of their adjusted gross income, enabling a wide range of district employees from teachers and administrative staff to bus drivers and custodial workers to afford housing. The Trust was pleased to support construction costs for these housing units.

$350K

Henry’s Fork Foundation

Founded in 1984 and located in Ashton, ID, the Henry’s Fork Foundation (HFF) is the only organization focused on the conservation of the unique fisheries, wildlife, and water resources of the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River and its connected watersheds. HFF uses a science-based, collaborative approach to promote favorable streamflow, good water quality, healthy fish populations, and a positive fishing experience. Trust funding supported a staff member to manage their new Climate Adaptation Program. This program will help communities, anglers, and farmers adjust and prosper amidst the climate changes that research has shown will emerge in the area over the next thirty years.

$225K

University of Idaho

The University of Idaho is home to the only Ecotron – an experimental, controlled environment in which to test or remove various factors impacting ecological processes – with a focus on deep soil research globally. A Trust grant supported the purchase of a mass spectrometer, which will allow for the rapid detection of volatile organic compounds produced at various depths. This will enable researchers to better understand microbial and plant responses to dynamic soil environments, which helps them to hypothesize regarding some of the most challenging problems facing our environment: climate change, the greenhouse effect, and land use.

$550K

Idaho Nonprofit Center

Idaho Nonprofit Center (INC) is an association of nonprofit leaders working together to share knowledge, solve problems, pursue common interests, and serve the public good. INC is committed to representing the interests of and strengthening nonprofits across the state. With over 800 member nonprofits, INC focuses on four capacity-building efforts for member organizations: board leadership, executive leadership, fundraising, and finance effectiveness. Trust funding supported personnel, program, and administrative costs intended to increase the sustainability and growth of INC’s core programs and build capacity in nonprofits across Idaho.

$330K

The Archie Bray Foundation

The Archie Bray Foundation (the Bray) is actively committed to promoting, celebrating, and sustaining the ceramic arts through residencies, educational opportunities, exhibitions, and community engagement. Founded in 1951 at the foothills of the Montana Rockies, the Bray has a 26-acre historic campus that houses a 12,000-square-foot resident artist studio, an education and research facility, multiple sales and exhibition galleries, offices, and a facility for ceramic retail and manufacturing. The Bray has become an internationally recognized hub of American ceramics, and the Trust was grateful to support its work through a grant funding new staffing, equipment, and infrastructure needs.

$500K

Montana Food Bank Network

For more than forty years, Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) has been the leader in hunger relief in Montana through food acquisition and distribution, education, and advocacy. From one location in Missoula, they reach all 56 counties in the state through more than 300 network partners, all working toward a vision where everyone in Montana has equal access to nutritious food. A Trust grant will support the construction of a new facility which will increase overall food receiving and storage capacity, contain a dedicated space for volunteer opportunities, and increase cold storage for expanded fresh food options.

$800K

International Deaf Education Association

Based in Billings, MT, International Deaf Education Association (IDEA) supports the Deaf community in the Philippines, working toward social and economic equality. Their mission is to foster self-reliance by providing academic, vocational, physical, spiritual, and economic opportunities for children, adults, and families experiencing Deafness and hearing loss. Because IDEA is based in Montana, a significant portion of their donor base is in the Pacific Northwest. The Trust supported funding toward a new staff member dedicated to outreach and fundraising in the region, strengthening IDEA’s sustainability and inviting more Pacific Northwest communities into its inspiring work.

$244K

Montana State University Bozeman

A researcher at Montana State University Bozeman and a science teacher at Gallatin High School are collaborating on research across two summers, funded by a Partners in Science grant. They will investigate changes to the salmonfly hatch and bird predation brought about by climate and hydrologic changes, which will help inform river conservation in the Rocky Mountains. This Partners in Science model is intended to engage secondary school teachers in vital research, give them new materials for their classrooms, and in turn inspire the next generation of scientists through exposure to cutting-edge research.

$19K

Montana Nonprofit Association

Montana Nonprofit Association (MNA) works to strengthen nonprofits providing essential services, supporting Montanans’ quality of life, and upholding the state’s social safety net. More than 10% of people in Montana work for charitable organizations, innovating and collaborating to create community-based, people-centered solutions to challenges across the state. MNA understands the unique needs of Montana nonprofits, and in response offers professional and organizational development, public policy and advocacy, research, philanthropic support, and more. A Trust grant supported programming and technology needs so that MNA can offer further capacity-building assistance to Montana nonprofits.

$330K

Underscore News

Underscore News produces collaborative journalism framed by social justice to promote civic engagement and a fair-minded society. It has a growing reporting team covering Indigenous communities in Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest, and its coverage is often republished by tribal newsletters, rural newspapers, public radio, and major news outlets such as The Oregonian. A Trust grant supported the hiring of three new staff members to cover new beats and increase readership and donor support.

$164K

Centro Cultural

Founded in 1972, Centro Cultural is a home for Latino cultures, serving the needs of Portland’s diverse communities by promoting personal growth and empowerment, addressing social barriers to equity, and stimulating systemic change. This nonprofit serves more than 13,000 individuals annually throughout the Portland Metro region and rural communities beyond, working for positive change in the areas of civic leadership, community wellness, economic development, housing services, arts and culture, and youth development. The Trust was pleased to partner with Centro Cultural to support their sustainable growth through the development of a Human Resources department.

$203K

Trillium Family Services

Trillium Family Services is an Oregon leader in mental health treatment for children and families. It is the premier and only provider of the full spectrum of children and family behavioral health in the state, with programs ranging from prevention and early intervention services to intensive psychiatric inpatient treatment. It annually serves more than 30,000 children and families across all 36 Oregon counties, taking a trauma-informed approach to walk alongside families. A Trust grant supported construction costs and capital improvements at Trillium’s Corvallis campus.

$300K

Oregon State University

Oregon State University is home to one of the nation’s largest colleges of engineering. The university has long played a critical role in the semiconductor ecosystem in Oregon, both by educating future employees and conducting basic and applied research. With the creation of a new 150,000-square-foot facility to support research and education at the intersections of materials science, computation, artificial intelligence, engineering, and robotics, Oregon State is poised to strengthen this field even more. Trust funding supported the purchase and installation of state-of-the-art nanofabrication instrumentation for this new facility.

$700K

Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest

Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) Northwest responds to local community needs by recruiting, placing, and supporting volunteers who provide values-centered service grounded in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Through participation in the Trust’s Vision & Call grant program, JVC invites young adults into their work toward a more just and equitable Northwest through internship opportunities in Communications and Development. During their nine-month internship, these young adults will engage in critical work, mentorship, self-reflection, and the Trust’s Vision & Call Interns Retreat, working toward greater discernment of their own best future and contribution to the common good.

$69K

Acts on Stage

Acts On Stage is a professional theater committed to centering the talents, voices, works, and initiatives of People of Color and Creatives of Faith. It offers a regular season of theater, development programs for young artists, a teen summer musical, a digital store for literary works produced by Writers of Color and Faith, and more. Acts On Stage offers an internship program through the Murdock Trust Vision & Call grant program, welcoming summer interns to support theater productions and 12-month interns to work as production assistants. All interns engage in the Vision & Call process of mentorship, self-reflection, attendance of the Vision & Call retreat, and vocational discernment.

$120K

Lighthouse Mission Ministries

For a century, Lighthouse Mission Ministries (LMM) has been a consistent friend to adults and children experiencing homelessness in the North Puget Sound area. Through outreach, meals, 24/7 crisis shelter, addiction recovery, and discipleship programs, LMM supports hurting and traumatized people as they exit homelessness and enter a more flourishing life. A Trust grant supported the construction of a new facility designed to be the hub for homeless services in the Bellingham community. This facility will include a walk-in Family Crisis Shelter, designated beds for seniors and medically fragile guests, a dorm specifically for those with special needs and mental health concerns, and more.

$1M

Center for Dialog and Resolution

Center for Dialog & Resolution (CDR) exists to resolve differences and strengthen relationships in the Pierce County community and beyond. CDR offers mediation services, public education around conflict resolution, facilitation services, and professional development workshops. Its services include small claims court and settlement conference mediations for Pierce County District and Superior Courts, which saves Pierce County taxpayers more than one million dollars each year through diverted court costs. A Trust grant contributed to the hiring of new staff to support CDR’s consulting services, which have been increasing in demand in recent years.

$210K

CHAS Health

Before Community Health Association of Spokane (CHAS Health), people living in Spokane, WA, did not have easy access to high-quality, low-cost healthcare. Now, local communities can benefit from integrated primary medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, pediatrics, gynecological, and obstetrical care. Services are available to all regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, and in 2021 alone, CHAS Health served more than 99,000 patients, including more than 16,000 experiencing homelessness. In 2023, the Trust supported the launch of the CHAS Health Learning Institute, which will train medical, dental, and pharmaceutical apprentices and address healthcare worker shortages in Spokane.

$425K

Whitworth University

Whitworth University is a private liberal arts college in Spokane, WA, offering more than 100 graduate and undergraduate programs. The Trust has been pleased to partner with them through many grants over the years, most recently with funding toward research into diversity in plant populations. An assistant professor of biology is conducting this research to better understand when intraspecific diversity arises in plants and how it affects plant-associated communities. Undergraduate students will also have an opportunity to participate, present their work at annual conferences, and earn authorship on publications.

$68K

Speak with Purpose

Speak with Purpose (SWP) cultivates spaces that allow young scholars who are furthest away from educational justice to speak with purpose and truth. Through an in-school curriculum that engages nearly 400 scholars annually across Seattle Public Schools, SWP aims to bridge the engagement and opportunity gap by reaching every child that is silenced in the back of the classroom and inspire them to become leaders in the front. In 2023, SWP participated in the Murdock Trust Essentials of Development program, investing in their fundraising and development strategy through a year-long, cohort-based learning community alongside peer nonprofits and experienced coaches.

Lemonade Day

Lemonade Day helps prepare youth for life through fun, proactive, experiential programs infused with life skills, character education, and entrepreneurship. Its foremost objective is to help today’s youth become the business leaders, social advocates, community volunteers, and forward-thinking citizens of tomorrow. This national nonprofit is establishing a regional office in the Pacific Northwest to ensure maximum impact and serve local communities sustainably. The Trust was pleased to support these efforts, and specifically the hiring of a regional director, through a grant in 2023.

$356K

Recidiviz

Recidiviz works to reduce incarceration safely, equitably, and at-scale. Alongside justice-impacted communities, practitioners, and ecosystem partners, Recidiviz collaborates with corrections agencies to modernize their use of data to improve outcomes and safely reduce incarceration. This national nonprofit is looking to expand its work in the Pacific Northwest with the goal of reducing local incarceration numbers by 8,000 individuals over the next three years. The Trust supported these efforts through funding for new staff that will test innovative approaches in Idaho, optimize programming in Oregon, and bring Washington onto the Recidiviz platform.

$500K

Sanctuary Mental Health Services

Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries (Sanctuary) provides faith communities and members with mental health training resources. This work is fueled by a belief that the local church has a key role to play in supporting mental health and wellbeing. Since 2018 when Sanctuary launched its first online resource, an 8-session program designed to help faith communities start conversations about mental health, an estimated 200,000 people have participated in it. Trust funding supported the launch of a United States branch with focus on the Pacific Northwest.

$243K

University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global center for teaching, learning, and research, consistently ranked among the top public universities in the world. Recently, researchers at UBC developed a new water treatment that permanently removes PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” from drinking water. This treatment involves technology that uses a novel regenerable resin to capture and destroy PFAS. A Trust grant supported commercialization of this technology so that more PFAS-impacted communities worldwide can see improved water conditions.

$75K

Arts Council of Big Sky

Arts Council of Big Sky (Arts Council) aims to enrich its community through artistic experiences. Through performing arts events, art workshops, educational programming, and a public art program, they seek to connect and inspire their Montana community through art. In 2023, Arts Council participated in the Murdock Trust Essentials of Development program, investing in their fundraising efforts through our year-long cohort-style program. They developed an annual fundraising plan, refined their case statement, worked on their donor list, and invested in their development team, all alongside dozens of peer nonprofits and expert coaches.

Programming

In addition to grantmaking, the Murdock Trust offers programming designed to strengthen nonprofits, develop community leaders, and maximize impact in our five sectors. Below is a list of programs and conferences the Trust was able to offer in 2023, partnering with more than 100 organizations in intentional development and reaching more than 1,000 individuals through all key programming.

Cohort-Style Programs

Essentials of Development
Board Leadership & Development
Board Leadership & Development: Faith-Based
Board Leadership & Development: Green Room
Peer Cohorts

Conferences

Leadership Now
Murdock College Science Research Conference
Partners in Science Regional Conference
Partners in Science National Conference
Vision & Call Intern & Advisor Retreat

Seattle Youth Symphony, Washington
Leadership Now 2023

Saying Goodbye in 2023

Kelvin “K.T.” Harrington
Director of Technology
Kelvin “K.T.” Harrington stepped away from his role as Director of Technology and Information Management Systems in early 2023.
Dana Miller
Senior Program Director, Grants Programs
Dana Miller retired from his role as Senior Program Director for Grants Programs in 2023 after fifteen years of dedicated leadership.
Mark Pyatt
Investment Officer
After fourteen years at the Trust, Mark Pyatt transitioned out of his role as Investment Officer to pursue other opportunities in philanthropy.

Saying Hello in 2023

Clare Maxwell
Investment Officer
Clare Maxwell joined our team as Investment Officer, working directly alongside our Chief Investment Officer to assist in managing the Trust portfolio.
Michelle Charbonneau
Director of Technology and Information Management Services
We welcomed Michelle Charbonneau as our Director of Technology and Information Management Services, leading the strategic use of technology at the Trust.
Mikaela Tidland
Front Office Assistant
Mikaela Tidland joined our team as Front Office Assistant, providing essential administrative and day-to-day support to Trust staff.
Sara Thompson
Events Manager
Sara Thompson became our first-ever Events Manager, overseeing the strategic vision and execution of Murdock Trust events and convenings.
Sara O’Brien
Executive Assistant, External Relations for the Executive Office
Sara O’Brien joined our team as Executive Assistant, External Relations for the Executive Office, providing essential support to our board and executive leadership.
Trinita Saldana
Administrative Assistant, Grants & Programs
We welcomed Trinita Saldana onto our team as Administrative Assistant to Grants & Programs, supporting our sector teams and leadership.
Angela Little
Program Officer, Scientific Research
Angela Little joined the Trust as Program Officer for Scientific Research, performing grantmaking and programming activities across the SR sector.
Jennifer Groth
Senior Program Officer, Civic Engagement & Community Services
Jennifer Groth became Senior Program Officer for Civic Engagement & Community Services (CECS), facilitating grants and programming for nonprofits in our CECS sector.
Elaine Charpentier Philippi
Senior Program Officer, Arts, Culture, & Education
Elaine Charpentier Philippi joined our team as Senior Program Officer for Arts, Culture, & Education (ACE), facilitating grants and programming for nonprofits in our ACE sector.
Michelle Boss Barba
Senior Program Officer, Arts, Culture, & Education
Michelle Boss Barba was welcomed as Senior Program Officer for Arts, Culture, & Education (ACE), facilitating grants and programming for nonprofits providing vital community services in our ACE sector.

Celebrating Dana Miller

After fifteen years of exemplary service, Dana Miller transitioned out of his role as senior program director for grant programs in 2023. Dana joined the Murdock Trust in 2008 and was well suited to lead the Trust’s grant programs and associated processes from the start. Throughout his tenure, Dana oversaw substantial growth in the Trust’s grantmaking work, going from more than 250 grants totaling around $42 million in his first year to more than triple that number in his last. From managing new initiatives to growing our program officers and grants team to supervising the transition to an online grants database, Dana led critical evolutions of the Trust’s grantmaking with care, wisdom, and dedication. The entire organization is better for it, and we feel the ripple effects of his leadership to this day.

“Dana’s steadfastness helped to nurture and guide our Trust grant staff and grantmaking processes. Always mindful of the constituents we serve, he consistently evaluated and intentionally implemented improvements for the applicant, grantee, and Murdock grant staff. His steady guidance supported all aspects of the Trust and affirmed our commitment to the Trust’s legacy. We all miss his humble and thoughtful approach for assuring the best outcomes for our Murdock grant staff and our constituency, but we do wish him all the best!” -Marybeth Stewart Goon, Senior Grants Manager

“Dana played an instrumental role in the grantmaking of the Murdock Trust over the last decade and a half. His thoughtful stewardship and astute leadership helped the Trust partner with thousands of nonprofits through his many years of service. On behalf of my co-Trustees, I can confidently say our foundation and the Pacific Northwest are stronger because of his contributions and we are grateful for his faithful service.” -John Castles, Trustee

Celebrating Mark Pyatt

For fourteen years, Mark Pyatt played a key role in the Murdock Trust’s investment strategy, beginning as Investment Analyst and serving most recently as Investment Officer. Since he joined in 2008, Mark helped steward the foundation’s corpus through multiple challenging economic moments, built and nurtured important relationships with investment managers, and was an incredible support through our 2017 chief investment officer transition. The Trust’s investment team goal is to be the best client possible for our investment managers, and Mark embraced this philosophy and worked toward it daily. In 2023, Mark transitioned out of his role at the Trust to pursue other opportunities in philanthropy. We could not be more grateful for his time at the Trust.

“Mark possesses many important qualities that have helped him flourish in his contributions to the mission and work of the Trust. Arguably most important of these is that he has a servant’s heart. He wants to use his time, his skills, and his energy to help lift others. While it was hard for us to see him move onto a new challenge, we are heartened and inspired to know that he is making this transition to bring his knowledge and expertise to help others in our philanthropic community thrive.” -Elmer Huh, Chief Investment Officer

“For nine years, Mark and I worked side by side. From day one we had a strong connection and a deep friendship grew throughout those years. Mark taught me the basics of institutional investing and generously gave his time to answer all of my questions in his calm and thoughtful way. I am so glad he is now using his skills to chase his passion of helping a small foundation grow. Thank you, Mark, and I wish you many years of phenomenal success.” -Tammy Bjorkman, Former Investment Administrator

American Indigenous Business Leaders, Montana
Murdock College Science Research Program 2023

Total Assets, Grants Approved, & Grants Paid

Hover over the graph for more information. (Amounts in thousands. Example: $1,140,574 = $1,140,574,000)

Asset Diversification

The Murdock Trust divides all potential investments into three “Buckets”: Bucket 1 (low risk/return), Bucket 2 (medium risk/return), and Bucket 3 (high risk/return). The Trust considers all types of investment products—without preconceived ideas or built-in biases—for all three Buckets. Our investment objectives follow directly from this three-Bucket allocation strategy. More information on this strategy ›

Target Allocation

Bucket  

low Risk/Return

Investments
  • Cash
  • Fixed Income
  • Real Assets (debt-financed, lower risk)
  • Private Credit (lower risk)

Bucket  

medium Risk/Return

Investments
  • Public Equity
  • Private Credit (higher risk)
  • Real Assets (equity-financed, higher risk)
  • Secondaries
  • Evergreen Strategies

Bucket  

high Risk/Return

Investments
  • Growth Equity
  • Private Equity
  • Venture Capital
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Meet Jack Murdock

The late Melvin J. “Jack” Murdock, co-founder of Tektronix, Inc., was an entrepreneurial leader with business interests throughout the Pacific Northwest. Born and raised in southeast Portland, Jack turned a passion for radio and electronics repair into one of the largest employers in Oregon’s history through innovation and a commitment to building a workplace where his team could thrive.

Upon his untimely death in 1971, his will directed three Trustees to establish a charitable trust “to nurture and enrich the educational, cultural, social and spiritual lives of individuals, families and community.”

Watch the full documentary ›

The Jack Murdock Story – Trailer

Our Mission

To build capacity in nonprofits driving innovative and sustainable outcomes across the Pacific Northwest.

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The Trust guides nonprofit organizations through every level of their development through grants and other resources.

The Trust has a wealth of knowledge and experience that can make all the difference to you and your organization.