The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, one of the largest grantmaking foundations in the Portland area, announced a new CEO beginning July 2022, Romanita Hairston. Hairston will be the Murdock Trust’s fifth CEO, following the retirement of Steve Moore after 16 years of service.
Hairston comes to the Murdock Trust from a position at Microsoft. Previously, Hairston was vice president of U.S. programs at World Vision, a major charitable nonprofit. She also served as program director at the Murdock Trust for several years, before focusing on the future of work and learning at Microsoft. Now, Romanita returns to the foundation where she will oversee the work of the third largest grantmaking foundation in the Portland area.
Last year, the Murdock Trust announced a record year of giving, totaling $110 million through 460 grants. Since its founding in 1975 after the untimely death of its benefactor and Tektronix co-founder, Jack Murdock, the foundation has given $1.2 billion to nonprofit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest.
