Impor­tant update on LOI review process

Impor­tant update on LOI review process

Strategic Grant Application Process

Below are the stages and steps involved in the Trust’s Strategic Grants process

Please be advised: Due to a significant influx in grant applications in recent weeks, processing time has extended from the 4–6-month average to a 10-12+ month time frame. Trust staff are working diligently to address this backlog using multiple strategies, including revised and additional focused guidelines at the Letter of Inquiry stage to help prioritize our investments in the community. It is always our goal to respond to grant inquiries as quickly as possible, and Trust staff are working diligently to process these applications as quickly as possible.  

 

Trust staff are currently reviewing Letters of Inquiry. Organizations that do not meet eligibility guidelines will receive declination notice as soon as possible. Organizations with projects that are eligible for consideration will undergo additional review and prioritization by Trust staff and will receive a formal decision by the second quarter of 2025.  

Discovery

Learn if your organization might be eligible for a grant.

  1. Review the Eligibility Guidelines for Grantseekers to confirm that your organization meets geographical and tax status requirements and that your project fits within the Trust’s funding priorities and limitations.
  2. Explore our Grants Awarded database and Grantee Stories to see if we have funded similar projects in the past.
  1. Look through our Nonprofit Resources to learn about grant writing tips, nonprofit development, and more.
  2. Direct any remaining questions to info@murdocktrust.org or 360-694-8415

Eligibility Guidelines for Grantseekers

Application Process Roadmap

Grantee Stories

Grants Awarded

If your organization and project seem to be a good fit for Trust funding, move on to the next step.

Getting Started

Log into our portal and start the inquiry process.

  1. Register for a Murdock Trust Grants Portal user login via Submittable.
  2. Login to your grants portal.
Grants Portal

  1. Complete the brief eligibility quiz to confirm that your organization and project are potentially eligible for a strategic project grant. If you meet eligibility criteria, a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) will be made available to you in the grants portal.
  2. Complete the LOI to further help the Trust determine whether your organization and project are eligible and consistent with Trust practices and priorities. You will likely receive a response to your LOI within three weeks.
If your LOI is approved, you will be invited to submit a full application.

Submit & Review

Complete your application and wait to hear back.

Complete Application

  1. If invited to submit an application, you will receive an invitation to begin the process in our grants portal.
  2. Fill out all fields in our application. Upload required documents.
  3. Review and double-check figures.
  4. When complete, click the Submit Form button.

Grant Application Resources

Grant Writing

Review Process

  1. Staff will review your documents and request additional information needed via email.
  2. Once the document reviewer confirms your application is complete, a program officer will be assigned to your application.
  3. Your program officer will schedule a site visit to discuss project details, leadership, the board, plans for executing and sustaining the project, criteria for success, and more.
  4. Your program officer will complete a thorough analysis and prepare a detailed report for peer review and Trustee decision.
The Trust will notify you as soon as a decision has been made.

Final Decision

Hear back typically within 6-12 months.

  1. Trustees review all requests and make decisions. While merit is evident in nearly every application, we are not able to award every request that we receive.
  2. Your program officer will contact you about the Trustees’ decision regarding your application.
  3. If a grant is awarded, you will receive an email requesting that you complete a form with your signer and financial contact information. Once complete, your signer will receive the grant agreement.

Resubmissions

Denied applications will not be carried over for future consideration and, under normal circumstances, are not permitted for resubmission. Declined applicants may submit a new LOI for a different project six months after decision date. We recommend exploring our Nonprofit Resources to help you with your next application.

Future Projects

Returning grantees may submit a new LOI three years after their last award date.


Grant Administration Overview

Nonprofit Resources