Impor­tant update to appli­ca­tion process

Impor­tant update to appli­ca­tion process

Strategic Project Grant Application Process

Submission windows and step-by-step application guidance

Review the submission windows and application process below for Strategic Project grants.

Three-Period Grant Submission Cycle

Note: All deadlines are 5 PM Pacific Time Zone

Last Submission 

Grant Cycle

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

LOI Submission Period

Oct 15–Dec 26, 2025

  • LOI intake capped at 300 eligible submissions. Window closes once reached.
  • Returning grantees who received a grant award in the last 4 years (February 2022 or later): March 9- April 9
  • All other applicants, including first time: March 16- April 9

Jul 1–Aug 10, 2026

Oct 15–Nov 20, 2026

LOI Decision for Eligible Organizations and Projects

By Jan 31, 2026

By May 31, 2026

By Sept 30, 2026

By Jan 31, 2027

Full Application Submission Period for Approved LOIs

Feb 1–Mar 20, 2026

Jun 1–July 21, 2026

Oct 1–Dec 1, 2026

Feb 1–Mar 20, 2027

Receive Grant Decision

Sept 2026 grants meeting

Dec 2026 grants meeting

Apr 2027 grants meeting

Aug 2027 grants meeting

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. Review our current LOI and application submission periods at the top of this page to determine the right time to submit.
  3. 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

Eligibility Guidelines for Grantseekers

Application Process Roadmap

Eligibility & Priorities Webinars (March 2026)

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

Getting Started

Log in to our portal and start the inquiry process.

  1. Register for a Murdock Trust Grants Portal user login via Submittable.
  2. Log in to your grants portal.
  3. If you are within an LOI submission period, the first step is to complete a 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.
Grants Portal

Letter of Inquiry

  1. Complete the LOI to further help the Trust determine whether your organization and project are eligible and aligned with current funding priorities. LOIs received during the LOI submission periods will receive formal decisions by the end of the 3-month window. Organizations that do not meet eligibility guidelines will receive declination notices as soon as possible.
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 your LOI is approved, you will receive an invitation to begin the application process in our grants portal. Note our application submission windows above.
  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 4-6 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 one year 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