2024 Annual Report

National Forest Foundation

Message From the CEO

As we reflect on the accomplishments of the Murdock Trust throughout 2024, our 49th year of giving, I am filled with gratitude and pride for the remarkable progress we have made in our mission to serve the Pacific Northwest. As always, our work is motivated by the evergreen donor intent of Jack Murdock and our desire to pursue human flourishing for the common good through capacity-building investments that are innovative and sustainable. We remain inspired by the passionate and faithful service of individuals and organizations across our region doing impactful work.  

As 2024 began, we embraced the theme of renewal, focusing on reflection and the opportunities it brings for growth and improvement. This mindset guided our efforts as we introduced exciting updates to our work, including the full realization of our new sectoral model. This model, rooted in the evergreen donor intent of our benefactor Jack Murdock, has allowed us to better align our strategies with the evolving needs of our community. 

We marked the culmination of over a year of dedicated work with the launch of our new Grants Management System (GMS). This system, designed to streamline the application process and enhance our ability to capture and utilize data, represents a significant investment in our capacity to support the nonprofit community more effectively. By leveraging technology, we gave time back to ourselves and those we serve for strategic work, unleashed greater human potential, and improved our grantmaking process. 

Throughout the year, we achieved several key milestones, including the official publication of our sectoral strategies. These advancements have refined our approach and priorities, ensuring greater clarity for the nonprofits we support and amplifying the impact of our investments.  

Like many of you, we’ve done this while navigating the shifting, sometimes perplexing, and often complex external landscape. Our focus has been on responding with curiosity, courage, thoughtfulness, and a deep focus on finding a third way that leads to highest common denominator solutions. While there is much I could note here, let me simply say that we remained committed to the social sector, committed to those we serve, and committed to working for the common good with those with whom we agree and disagree.  

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue building on the foundation we have established, fostering collaboration, and driving positive change. The end of 2024 led us into our 50th Anniversary celebration (explore more here), which has only renewed my deep gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our team, the support of our Trustees, and the invaluable contributions of our community partners. Together, we are making a meaningful impact and ensuring a brighter future for all. 

In gratitude,

Person sittings with arms crossed, smiling, wearing professional attire and looking directly at the camera.

Romanita Hairston
Chief Executive Officer

A Look Back at 2024

$89m

Total Granted

320

Grants Awarded

1290

Program Participants

$15.2m to Artistic & Cultural Expression

$34.1m to Civic Engagement & Community Services

$7.0m to Education & Leadership Development

$21.9m to Health & Environmental Stewardship

$10.2m to Scientific Research

What Does the Murdock Trust Do?

Watch the trailer below (and full video at this link) to learn more about the Murdock Trust’s vision for partnering with nonprofits – the backbone of thriving communities and the heart of lasting change. 

Nonprofits at Work

In the midst of significant increases in inquiries and grant applications, as well as organizational restructure at the Trust, we remained committed to processing as many applications as possible in 2024. The nonprofits and projects described below represent a small sampling of the good work done across our region last year, and they are truly the “Why” behind the Murdock Trust’s “What.” We invite you to explore, be inspired, and learn more about these nonprofits. View full list of strategic grants here >

Pauline Fong

Chief Program & Impact Officer

Interactive Nonprofits Gallery
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Weissman Hood Institute (formerly McLaughlin Research Institute)
Prison Fellowship

Programming

I have had the distinct honor of leading the Murdock College Science Research (MCSR) Conference and overseeing the Partners in Science Conferences for over a decade, as well as seeing the impact of the cohorts and conferences listed below over the years. This has given me insight into the caliber of eager participants who attend our programs, ready to invest in their own growth for the sake of their nonprofits, disciplines, institutions, and communities. It has also given me a chance to witness the strength of our Murdock Trust team and strategic partners who put on these programs with great heart, expertise, and dedication. Cheers to all who made 2024 an impactful year of programming!

Moses Lee

Vice President, Scientific Research Grants & Programming

Cohort-Style Programs

Board Leadership Faith-Based

In 2024, 93 participants from 16 faith-based nonprofits deepened their board leadership skills through personalized coaching and hands-on training.

Board Leadership & Development

In 2024, 76 participants from 14 nonprofits engaged in training and cohort-based coaching for more effective board leadership.

Essentials of Development

93 professionals from 19 organizations sharpened their fundraising expertise in 2024 through in-person and virtual sessions and personalized coaching. 

Green Room: Board Leadership for Leaders of Color

30 leaders of color from our region participated in a year-long cohort, preparing to either step into board leadership for the first time or to strengthen their existing board commitments. 

Peer Cohorts: Excelling Beyond the Beginning

13 executive directors in their third to sixth year of leadership joined a collaborative, two-year cohort in 2024, diving deep into shared leadership challenges and opportunities. 

Conferences

Murdock College Science Research Conference

Under the theme “Saving Our Planet Through Scientific Research,” 332 undergraduate students and 90 faculty gathered for undergraduate research presentations, networking, and a lecture. 

Partners in Science Research Symposium

Around 200 secondary school science teachers from across the nation gathered in San Diego for several days of research presentations, collaborative learning, and networking. 

Partners in Science Teaching Practices Conference

25 secondary school science teachers gathered in Vancouver, WA, to discuss best practices and methodologies to bring to their classrooms. 

Vision & Call Retreat

172 interns supported by the Murdock Trust Vision & Call program enjoyed fellowship, learning, and dedicated time to consider vocation at this annual retreat. 

Women in Leadership Conference

90 women in nonprofit mid-level leadership gathered for career learning, networking, and workshops to support professional and personal growth. 

Changing Faces in 2024

Press Enter or Space to view biography. Press Escape to close.

After more than 13 dedicated years at the Trust, Conner Peckham transitioned out of his role as Business Systems Analyst to pursue other opportunities in philanthropy. 

After four years at the Murdock Trust, including three years on the Investments team, Shannon Hendricks left the Trust to pursue another role in the nonprofit space. 

May LaFlamme joined our Communications team as our very first Digital Media Specialist, elevating our digital presence and helping amplify stories of community collaborations across the region.

Celebrating Conner Peckham

After more than 13 years at the Murdock Trust, Conner Peckham stepped into new opportunities in the philanthropic space in 2024. Starting as Administrative Assistant in 2010, Conner steadily took on roles supporting communications, grants, programs, and technology, ultimately serving as Business Systems Analyst. He was instrumental in modernizing Trust operations, bringing clarity and care to every system he touched. Just as impactful, Conner’s kindness and creativity shaped team traditions and culture in ways we still cherish today. 

“Conner was a stable and strong contributor throughout his 13.5 years investing in the Murdock Trust and the well-being of grantees. He is a man of utmost integrity and character and was a strong culture builder within the organization. Thank you for all that you gave us, Conner.” - Mike True, Chief Financial Officer, Murdock Trust 

Conner Peckham

Business Systems Analyst

Lauren Edson Dance

Total Assets, Grants Approved & Grants Paid

In 2024, we approved more than $90 million in new grants and processed grant payments of more than $115 million in commitments. While these numbers will fluctuate year over year – dependent on demand, capacity, and economic factors – the steadfast work behind each project these dollars support is what continues to inspire our team. Hover over the graph below to learn more about the Trust’s history of giving.

Mike True

Chief Financial Officer 

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

Investments

In 2024, the Murdock Trust continued to employ a highly relational investment strategy that navigated the competing demands of any given moment with a long-term outlook. This past year saw several enduring themes emerge that we wanted to get ahead of and we have been in the process of intentionally shifting some allocations accordingly. At every step, we worked with trusted managers as we stewarded the resources entrusted to us in Jack Murdock’s will for the benefit of the common good.

Elmer Huh

Chief Investment Officer 

The Murdock Trust divides all potential investments into either low, medium, or high “risk/reward buckets” and considers all types of investment products — without preconceived ideas or built-in biases — for all three categories. Our investment objectives follow directly from this “three-bucket” allocation strategy. More information on this strategy ›

Target Allocation

Investment Types

Low Risk/Return
Cash & Alternative Cash
Fixed Income Relative Value
Long U.S. Treasuries
Medium Risk/Return
Public Equity
Private Debt & Mezzanine
Real Estate & Infrastructure
Other Mid-Risk/Return Strategies
High Risk/Return
Private Equity
Distressed Debt
Venture Capital
Growth Equity

About Our Benefactor

Our benefactor, Melvin J. “Jack” Murdock, was an avid learner, innovator, and entrepreneur with business interests throughout the Pacific Northwest. At a young age, he established his own business selling and servicing radios and electrical appliances, and from there he began working with Howard Vollum. The two would go on to develop the oscilloscope and co-found Tektronix, which would become a major Oregon employer and contribute significantly to the tech growth of the Pacific Northwest. Upon his untimely death in 1971, his will directed three Trustees to establish a charitable trust that would support thriving communities in the region he lived in and loved.

Learn About Jack › View Jack’s Timeline ›

Our Mission

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

Our Vision and Values ›
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