The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is a philanthropic organization based in Vancouver, Washington. Founded in 1975, it has made more than 6,400 grants over the course of four decades. Two areas that are key focal points for the Murdock Trust are projects that serve the scientific research and education sectors. These were both areas of great importance to Jack Murdock, the benefactor of the Murdock Trust and co-founder of Tektronix. To improve access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the Pacific Northwest, the Murdock Trust has recently provided support to Washington STEM.
In June, Washington STEM released an executive summary of its series of reports STEM by the Numbers: Equity and Opportunity. The summary explains that STEM education is the most direct path to a career that can sustain a family, yet clear gaps in opportunity exist. However, the report goes beyond pointing to these gaps in achievement by creating a strategic plan for encouraging more diversity in STEM fields.
Washington STEM plans to begin forming strategic alliances with various partners around the state to triple the number of underrepresented students in these fields. This goal includes students of color, as well as those from rural areas and low-income families. In addition, the organization plans to create more pathways for young women to engage in STEM fields and gain access to high-paying jobs.
