The Trust guides nonprofit organizations through every level of their development through grants and other resources.
Sectors the Trust is committed to enriching in the Pacific Northwest:
The Trust has a wealth of knowledge and experience that can make all the difference to you and your organization.
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust partners with nonprofit organizations and community leaders across the Pacific Northwest to invest in transformational ideas and support pursuits that enable our region to flourish. These efforts are inspired by the life and legacy of our benefactor, Jack Murdock, whose vision for our region continues to inform our work today.
To build capacity in nonprofits driving innovative and sustainable outcomes across the Pacific Northwest.
Human flourishing for the common good. People of all communities thrive in a just society and experience equity of access and equality of opportunity, enhancing the quality of life for everyone.
We exercise thoughtful stewardship of the resources entrusted to us by Jack Murdock, ensuring his donor intent remains evergreen. This means taking a measured yet proactive approach to our investments. It also means we regularly examine the criteria by which we award grants so Trust resources continue to be used how our benefactor intended, accounting for the evergreen application of values in an ever-changing environment.
Motivated by Jack’s people-first leadership and passion for strengthening communities, we are a people-focused funder. We take a relational approach that seeks to build connection with the people with whom we partner, striving for every conversation, site visit, or program to be conducted with warm and sincere hospitality. We consider needs and measure impact with a community mindset, knowing that our region cannot flourish until all have the chance to do so.
Jack Murdock was an innovator in his field, so we strive to be that in ours. We value creative and inventive thinking that brings new solutions to big challenges. We encourage lifelong learning and adaptability in our staff and partners, and we strive for continuous improvement in the design and delivery of our grants, programs, convenings, and initiatives.
We gather and use qualitative and quantitative data to inform grantmaking decisions, program offerings, and strategic planning. We partner with those best suited to inform our work based on their proximity to local communities or areas of focus, knowing that data-driven decision-making will yield stronger, more measurable, and more sustainable results.
We support both secular and faith-based organizations that employ dignity and life-affirming principles aligned with the common good and reflected in Judeo-Christian tenets or principles. This is based on the example of Jack Murdock, who personally supported both secular and faith-based organizations that aligned with his values.
Inspired by the life and character of Jack Murdock, we seek to work in a spirit of humility and mutuality that embraces the dignity of all. We employ a growth mindset and foster a learning environment amongst our staff and partners, remembering that we need each other’s collaboration to arrive at solutions that work. We believe our fruit grows on the trees of others.
Jack Murdock was an innovator, entrepreneur, and Pacific Northwest visionary driven to serve people through a spirit of integrity and compassion. As co-founder of Tektronix, his inventions and business leadership contributed to the growth of the Silicon Forest, and as benefactor and philanthropist, his legacy has left ripples of impact in our region and beyond. Learn more about Jack ›
Shortly before Jack's untimely death in 1971, he created a will that designated three Trustees to establish a charitable trust. The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust was officially founded in 1975, and we have been grateful to partner with more than 3,000 organizations serving the common good of the region Jack loved ever since. Learn more about our history ›
Jack wanted his resources “to nurture and enrich the educational, cultural, social, and spiritual lives of individuals, families, and communities.” In faithfulness to Jack’s donor intent, our funding areas include Artistic & Cultural Expression, Civic Engagement & Community Services, Education & Leadership Development Health & Environmental Stewardship, and Scientific Research. Learn more about areas we fund ›
We enact our mission through grantmaking, initiatives, programming, and convenings. Our grantmaking is responsive to the needs of communities through an interactive approach, while our initiatives and programs are proactive efforts to catalyze strategic impact. Our convenings are focused on connecting and learning to advance collective efforts to serve the common good. We approach all of this work with the belief that nonprofits know the nuances and needs of their local communities, and we are simply here to partner with them in bringing their good work to fruition. Learn more about our work on our our blog and reports.
Jack's original $91 million has been stewarded and invested since 1975, growing steadily to help fund more than $1.5 billion in grants to nonprofits. We take a long-term, highly relational approach to our investment strategy. Learn more about Investments ›
