M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust sets giving records in 2021

Following two record-breaking years of giving, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust based in Vancouver, Washington announced a record quarter and record year of giving. Since its establishment in 1975 by the estate of Melvin J. “Jack” Murdock, a co-founder of Tektronix, the Murdock Trust has invested over $1.2 billion in nonprofit organizations that enrich the educational, spiritual, and cultural base of the Pacific Northwest.

Recently, the Murdock Trust announced that it approved 112 grants in the final quarter of 2021, totaling $25.4 million. This includes funding for 33 nonprofits totaling $6.4 million in Washington alone. These record-breaking numbers finish off a record-breaking year of giving; in 2021, the Murdock Trust invested $110 million through 460 grants throughout the region.

In 2019, the Murdock Trust invested $57 million, followed by $75 million in 2020. This marks the third consecutive year the Murdock Trust set personal records for investment in the community.

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust awards grants to three Clark County nonprofits

 

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, a Vancouver-based nonprofit foundation established in 1975 by the estate of the late Melvin “Jack” Murdock, awarded $610,000 in grants to nonprofits in ClarkCounty. This was part of $110 million given in 2021 to organizations across the Pacific Northwest who are seeking to serve the common good.

Global Sojourns Giving Circle received $145,000 toward hiring a new executive director, which will allow the nonprofit to expand its efforts in giving grants to community-based organizations that mentor youth in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa. Priscilla Plummer, founder of the organization, lives primarily in Cape Town, South Africa, where she sees the fruit of the organization’s labor in witnessing kids know their lives matter.

Meadow Glade Adventist Elementary School in Battle Ground will realize an eight-year-long dream with the construction of a new state-of-the-art music facility, partly funded by a $400,000 grant from the Murdock Trust. Musical education at the school took place in empty classrooms and the gym before, but a new department will give them the space and acoustics they need for an improved music education experience.

Shared Hope International, which aims to end sex-trafficking worldwide, will participate for a third year in the Murdock Trust’s Vision and Call internship program thanks to a $64, 856 grant from the Murdock Trust. Established in 2006, Vision and Call helps young adults learn about vocation through internships at nonprofit organizations. According to a Shared Hope International spokesperson, the Murdock Trust does a great job developing leaders, and Vision and Call interns often land leadership positions in the nonprofit sector following their internship.

Looking into the future of the coronavirus pandemic

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is a nonprofit foundation that seeks to enrich the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to funding grants for projects in the arts, education, health, and human services, the Murdock Trust regularly funds scientific research, such as work at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Oregon Health & Sciences University.   

Recently, the Murdock Trust supported a conversation between professor and virologist Dr. Larry Corey, past president director at Fred Hutchinson, and Dr. Donna Hansel, professor and chair of pathology and laboratory medicine at OHSU. In partnership with The Seattle Times, they shared insights on COVID-19, vaccines, and the future of this pandemic.  

 

Though the vaccine has been shown to provide 20 times more protection than the natural infection, only about 57% of the U.S. population is vaccinated. Until vaccinations become more widely accepted, it may be difficult to protect the most vulnerable in our society.  

 

The doctors also shared predictions about the future of the pandemic. Hansel shared that the virus will be monitored for new variants, because there is always the potential for another round with viral pathogens. Even the common cold is another coronavirus. However, Hansel thinks we can learn to live with this virus with the use of at-home rapid antigen testing kits that provides a quicker diagnosis than PCR tests.  

 

While schools will likely stay open and people will return to in-person clinical care in the next six to 12 months, a return to in-person restaurants, theaters and other public indoor spaces may take longer. Corey is hopeful that the vaccine will allow children to resume the activities crucial to their development, reintroducing a sense of normalcy to families. Overall, both doctors remain cautiously optimistic about the future of the pandemic. 

Steve Moore of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Announces Retirement

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust was founded in 1975 following the untimely death of Tektronix co-founder, Melvin J. “Jack” Murdock. Murdock’s initial estate of $80 million has now grown to over $2 billion and generated more than $1 billion in capacity building investment for the region. Steve Moore, executive director of the Murdock Trust since 2006, recently announced his retirement in 2022.  

During his time as executive director of the foundation, Moore appreciated that the Murdock Trust focused its funding on particular sectors: Human Services, Arts & Culture, Science, Education, and Health. He noted that the Murdock Trust always tried to connect the people working within sectors and connect people to individuals in other sectors.  

 

This is one reason Moore enjoys attending Founder’s Day, a celebration held on the last Friday of June when grantees from the past year gather to celebrate and connect.  

 

Moore recalled the last Founder’s Day in 2019 before the pandemic, remembering how a director of a literary arts nonprofit met someone from a food bank in Idaho alongside someone else from a historical museum in Washington. Connections like these are what Moore appreciates about the Murdock Trust.  

Murdock Trust announces grant awards

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust recently announced a collection of grants awarded at the foundation’s winter board meeting. The nonprofit organization approved 96 capacity building grants totaling $14.8 million.

The Murdock Trust is a private, nonprofit foundation serving the Pacific Northwest. Grantees represent five primary sectors – arts and culture, scientific research, education, healthcare and human services.

In 2019, the Murdock Trust announced it had awarded more than $1 billion in cumulative grants. The organization is also awarding emergency grants to nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Murdock Trust provides emergency COVID-19 support to PNW nonprofits

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has announced an emergency support grants program to provide funding and other resources to nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 22, the Murdock Trust had awarded approximately $14.7 million in grants to nonprofits in various sectors, including medical care and research and emergency food services.

The nonprofit foundation based in Vancouver, WA, serves a five state region, including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. In addition to emergency grants, the Murdock Trust has provided free online resources for nonprofits as well as coaching consultations.

Ongoing updates regarding the Murdock Trust’s COVID-19 Emergency Support Grants Program can be found on the foundation’s website – murdocktrust.org/covid19.

Murdock Trust Program Director Retires after 20 Years of Service

Over the course of nearly 45 years, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has supported more than 3,000 organizations to fulfill its mission of enriching the quality of life in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Recently, the Murdock Trust’s accomplished program director, Jan Kennedy Ferguson, retired after 20 meaningful years of service.

A great asset to the Trust, Ms. Ferguson used her experience, dedication, and talents to help people across the Pacific Northwest. She served exclusively in one role for 20 years and succeeded in distributing $105,683,674 across 601 grants. This amount represents approximately 10 percent of the Murdock Trust’s total funding since it was founded.

Ms. Ferguson guided various organizations through the grant application process and beyond so they could successfully execute their projects in the areas of arts, education, human services, and rural health. The organizations that benefited from Ms. Ferguson’s direction include the Portland Art Museum, Ruby Valley Hospital, and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.