Murdock College Research Program (Natural Sciences)
Who can apply: Private undergraduate colleges and universities in the Trust’s region with capacity for a natural sciences research program involving undergraduate students.

The Trust guides nonprofit organizations through every level of their development through grants and other resources.
A defining feature of M J Murdock Charitable Trust’s recent grantmaking is its emphasis on facilities, capital projects, and the infrastructure that helps organizations grow. In the latest grants list, large awards support new construction, renovations, and equipment across universities, community service providers, cultural institutions, and research organizations. Whitworth University received $1,500,000 for a new facility, and Northwest University received $1,000,000 for new health sciences programs and facility renovation, showing how the Trust links physical expansion with program development. That pattern extends beyond higher education. The Trust also supported a $1,000,000 facility construction grant to Latino Network in Portland and a $750,000 grant to Congregations for the Homeless for its capital campaign. In science and technology, Cook Inlet Tribal Council Inc received $1,000,000 for a new fab lab, while Oregon State University received $675,000 for cgmp manufacturing equipment. The Trust’s work spans artistic and cultural expression, civic engagement and community services, education and leadership development, health and environmental stewardship, and scientific research, with grants often aimed at strengthening capacity through buildings, equipment, and staff support.
In higher education and scientific research, the Trust pairs institutional growth with infrastructure. Whitworth University received $1,500,000 for a new facility, and Oregon State University received $675,000 for cgmp manufacturing equipment. The same pattern appears in health sciences: Northwest University received $1,000,000 for new health sciences programs and facility renovation. Community-serving facilities are another clear thread. Latino Network received $1,000,000 for facility construction, while Congregations for the Homeless received $750,000 for its capital campaign. In the cultural sphere, Patricia Reser Center for the Arts received $1,000,000 for facility construction, and KCTS Television received $750,000 for purchase and renovation of a facility. The Trust also funds technology-oriented spaces. Cook Inlet Tribal Council Inc received $1,000,000 for a new fab lab, and one grant to Bibleproject supported global distribution architecture, reflecting attention to infrastructure that supports delivery and scale.
$84.9M
$2B
$179.8M
$105.3M
Most grants fall between $30K and $125K, with a median of $63K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$63K
75th Percentile
$125K
About 34% of grants go to recipients in WA.
ROMANITA HAIRSTON
CEO
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for M J Murdock Charitable Trust.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 2,377 | $280.4M | 99.0% |
| 2 | Canada |
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Typical grant size sits at $30,000 at the 25th percentile, $62,500 at the median, and $124,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows a separate cluster of seven-figure awards for capital and infrastructure projects. M J Murdock Charitable Trust is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it accepts unsolicited applications for several active programs. Recipients appear across multiple years in the recent-grants record, including Trust Matching Gifts and Generous Giving, suggesting some repeat relationships alongside one-off project grants. Its strategic project grants are typically structured on a declining three-year basis of 100% / 67% / 33%.
Grantmaking is regional, with most gifts landing in the Pacific Northwest and the highest grant count in Washington. 34% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state of Washington, but the trust also funds organizations in Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. Recent Washington recipients include Seattle, Spokane, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Vancouver. Outside the U.S., the recipient country distribution includes 19 grants in Canada and 4 in the UK, with a recent grant to Larche Foundation of Greater Vancouver in Burnaby.
The Trust funds facilities, equipment, program expansion, and staff support across scientific research, higher education, community services, cultural institutions, and environmental stewardship. Recent examples include new facility work, renovations, capital campaigns, fab labs, and instrumentation or manufacturing equipment.
The Trust’s typical grant size is $30,000 at the 25th percentile, $62,500 at the median, and $124,500 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger capital grants at $1,000,000 and above.
Yes for several active programs, including the Murdock College Research Program (Natural Sciences), Commercialization Initiation Grants, Strategic Project Grants, Partners in Science, and Research Start-Up Grants. The Initiative Grants program is invitation only.
Washington has the highest grant count, with 34% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recent grants list also shows frequent awards in Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska, alongside some grants to Canada and the UK.
The record shows both patterns. Some recipients appear multiple times across years, including Trust Matching Gifts and Generous Giving, while many grants are one-off awards tied to a specific facility, equipment purchase, or program expansion.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 19 |
| $2M |
0.8% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 4 | $641K | 0.2% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Current and upcoming funding from M J Murdock Charitable Trust that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Private undergraduate colleges and universities in the Trust’s region with capacity for a natural sciences research program involving undergraduate students.
Who can apply: Senior faculty with an established, productive, nationally recognized research program, and junior faculty with demonstrated exceptional potential.
Who can apply: Private institutions hiring new tenure-track faculty in the natural sciences who need augmentation of start-up research packages.
Who can apply: Projects that move bench discoveries toward market; described alongside the Trust’s research universities and biomedical institutes opportunities.
Who can apply: Nonprofits serving the Pacific Northwest. Staff hires or programs initiated before the site visit are not eligible for funding.
Who can apply: Nonprofits serving the Pacific Northwest; capital projects aligned with the Trust's strategic priorities. In most cases, applicants should have raised a portion of the needed funds.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M J MURDOCK CHARITABLE TRUST | VANCOUVER, WA | $1,548,170 | 2025 | MATCHING GIFTS |
| FRIENDS OF SEATTLE WATERFRONT | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | DOWNTOWN SHORELINE CONSTRUCTION |
| LATINO NETWORK | PORTLAND, OR | $1,000,000 | 2025 | FACILITY CONSTRUCTION |
| NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY | KIRKLAND, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | NEW HEALTH SCIENCES PROGRAMS AND FACILITY RENOVATION |
| COOK INLET TRIBAL COUNCIL INC |
| ANCHORAGE, AK |
| $1,000,000 |
| 2025 |
| NEW FAB LAB |
| THE VERITAS FORUM INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $800,000 | 2025 | FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE PROGRAM |
| CARROLL COLLEGE | HELENA, MT | $800,000 | 2025 | LIBRARY RENOVATION |
| KCTS TELEVISION | SEATTLE, WA | $750,000 | 2025 | PURCHASE AND RENOVATION OF FACILITY |
| HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF DISTRICT IX INC | BOZEMAN, MT | $750,000 | 2025 | FACILITY CONSTRUCTION |
| THE YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF BOISE CITY IDAHO | BOISE, ID | $750,000 | 2025 | NEW CONSTRUCTION |
| LARCHE FOUNDATION OF GREATER VANCOUVER | BURNABY | $750,000 | 2025 | NEW FACILITY CONSTRUCTION |
| REID SAUNDERS EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION | SALEM, OR | $700,000 | 2025 | NEW FACILITY |
| GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY | NEWBERG, OR | $700,000 | 2025 | FACILITY CONSTRUCTION |
| GENEROUS GIVING INC | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $700,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE | SEATTLE, WA | $650,000 | 2025 | LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS |
| 4 RANGES COMMUNITY RECREATION FOUNDATION | LIVINGSTON, MT | $650,000 | 2025 | FACILITY CONSTRUCTION |
| ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER INC | ANCHORAGE, AK | $600,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $550,500 | 2025 | LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY (LC-MS) |
| MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION ASSOCIATION OF OREGON | PORTLAND, OR | $550,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATION |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN | PORTLAND, OR | $550,000 | 2025 | FACILITY REMODEL AND EXPANSION |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO | MOSCOW, ID | $550,000 | 2025 | CHEMICAL IONIZATION-MASS SPECTROMETER |
| WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY | SPOKANE, WA | $550,000 | 2025 | FACILITIES RENOVATION |
| BENAROYA RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT VIRGINIA MASON | SEATTLE, WA | $525,000 | 2025 | NUCLEIC ACIDS SEQUENCING, MICROSCOPY, AND IMAGING EQUIPMENT |
| HELENA FOOD SHARE INC | HELENA, MT | $500,000 | 2025 | FACILITY CONSTRUCTION |
| LITERARY ARTS INC | PORTLAND, OR | $500,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATIONS |
| SEATTLE AQUARIUM SOCIETY-SEAS | SEATTLE, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | FACILITY EXPANSION |
| NORTH VALLEY MUSIC SCHOOL | WHITEFISH, MT | $500,000 | 2025 | NEW FACILITY |
| CHILDRENS HOME SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATION |
| INTERFAITH SANCTUARY HOUSINGSERVICES INC | BOISE, ID | $500,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATION |
| GRANDE RONDE HOSPITAL INC | LA GRANDE, OR | $500,000 | 2025 | NEW CONSTRUCTION |
| MOUNTAIN HOME MONTANA INC | MISSOULA, MT | $500,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATIONS |
| LIGHTHOUSE MISSION MINISTRIES | BELLINGHAM, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | NEW FACILITY |
| OLYMPIC PENINSULA YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSN | SEQUIM, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | NEW CONSTRUCTION |
| CENTRAL MONTANA MEDICAL FACILITIES INC | LEWISTOWN, MT | $500,000 | 2025 | RENOVATION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION |
| EMPOWERING YOUTH & FAMILIES OUTREACH | SEATTLE, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | NEW CONSTRUCTION |
| MEALS ON WHEELS PEOPLE INC | PORTLAND, OR | $500,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND | PORTLAND, OR | $500,000 | 2025 | NEW FACILITY |
| CHUGACHMIUT | ANCHORAGE, AK | $500,000 | 2025 | NEW CONSTRUCTION |
| VIRGINIA GARCIA MEMORIAL HEALTH CENTER | ALOHA, OR | $500,000 | 2025 | RENOVATION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION |
| COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF TACOMA PIERCE COUNTY | TACOMA, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATION |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE LEWIS CLARK VALLEY INC | LEWISTON, ID | $493,500 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATION |
| SANTIAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | STAYTON, OR | $475,000 | 2025 | EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT RENOVATION AND EXPANSION |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $450,000 | 2025 | UPPER SALMON BASIN CONSERVATION EASEMENT |
| GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT 1 | ELMA, WA | $450,000 | 2025 | NEW MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING UNIT |
| BAINBRIDGE ISLAND JAPANESE AMERICAN MEMORIAL | BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA | $450,000 | 2025 | FACILITY CONSTRUCTION |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FOUNDATION | FAIRBANKS, AK | $450,000 | 2025 | NEW EQUIPMENT |
| SOUTHEAST ALASKA FOOD BANK | JUNEAU, AK | $450,000 | 2025 | NEW WAREHOUSE FACILITY |
| KODIAK HOCKEY LEAGUE | KODIAK, AK | $450,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATION |
| FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY CARE OF RICHLAND COUNTY INC | SIDNEY, MT | $450,000 | 2025 | PURCHASE OF A NEW HYPERBARIC SYSTEM |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $450,000 | 2025 | SCANNERS AND AI-SUPPORTED DIGITAL ANALYSIS SOFTWARE |
M J MURDOCK CHARITABLE TRUST
$1,548,170MATCHING GIFTS
FRIENDS OF SEATTLE WATERFRONT
$1,000,000DOWNTOWN SHORELINE CONSTRUCTION
LATINO NETWORK
$1,000,000FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000NEW HEALTH SCIENCES PROGRAMS AND FACILITY RENOVATION
COOK INLET TRIBAL COUNCIL INC
$1,000,000NEW FAB LAB
THE VERITAS FORUM INC
$800,000FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE PROGRAM
CARROLL COLLEGE
$800,000LIBRARY RENOVATION
KCTS TELEVISION
$750,000PURCHASE AND RENOVATION OF FACILITY
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF DISTRICT IX INC
$750,000FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
THE YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF BOISE CITY IDAHO
$750,000NEW CONSTRUCTION
LARCHE FOUNDATION OF GREATER VANCOUVER
$750,000NEW FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
REID SAUNDERS EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
$700,000NEW FACILITY
GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
$700,000FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
GENEROUS GIVING INC
$700,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE
$650,000LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS
4 RANGES COMMUNITY RECREATION FOUNDATION
$650,000FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER INC
$600,000FACILITY RENOVATION
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$550,500LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY (LC-MS)
MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION ASSOCIATION OF OREGON
$550,000FACILITY RENOVATION
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN
$550,000FACILITY REMODEL AND EXPANSION
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
$550,000CHEMICAL IONIZATION-MASS SPECTROMETER
WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY
$550,000FACILITIES RENOVATION
BENAROYA RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT VIRGINIA MASON
$525,000NUCLEIC ACIDS SEQUENCING, MICROSCOPY, AND IMAGING EQUIPMENT
HELENA FOOD SHARE INC
$500,000FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
LITERARY ARTS INC
$500,000FACILITY RENOVATIONS
SEATTLE AQUARIUM SOCIETY-SEAS
$500,000FACILITY EXPANSION
NORTH VALLEY MUSIC SCHOOL
$500,000NEW FACILITY
CHILDRENS HOME SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
$500,000FACILITY RENOVATION
INTERFAITH SANCTUARY HOUSINGSERVICES INC
$500,000FACILITY RENOVATION
GRANDE RONDE HOSPITAL INC
$500,000NEW CONSTRUCTION
MOUNTAIN HOME MONTANA INC
$500,000FACILITY RENOVATIONS
LIGHTHOUSE MISSION MINISTRIES
$500,000NEW FACILITY
OLYMPIC PENINSULA YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSN
$500,000NEW CONSTRUCTION
CENTRAL MONTANA MEDICAL FACILITIES INC
$500,000RENOVATION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION
EMPOWERING YOUTH & FAMILIES OUTREACH
$500,000NEW CONSTRUCTION
MEALS ON WHEELS PEOPLE INC
$500,000FACILITY RENOVATION
UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND
$500,000NEW FACILITY
CHUGACHMIUT
$500,000NEW CONSTRUCTION
VIRGINIA GARCIA MEMORIAL HEALTH CENTER
$500,000RENOVATION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION
COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF TACOMA PIERCE COUNTY
$500,000FACILITY RENOVATION
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE LEWIS CLARK VALLEY INC
$493,500FACILITY RENOVATION
SANTIAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
$475,000EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT RENOVATION AND EXPANSION
NATURE CONSERVANCY INC
$450,000UPPER SALMON BASIN CONSERVATION EASEMENT
GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT 1
$450,000NEW MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING UNIT
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND JAPANESE AMERICAN MEMORIAL
$450,000FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FOUNDATION
$450,000NEW EQUIPMENT
SOUTHEAST ALASKA FOOD BANK
$450,000NEW WAREHOUSE FACILITY
KODIAK HOCKEY LEAGUE
$450,000FACILITY RENOVATION
FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY CARE OF RICHLAND COUNTY INC
$450,000PURCHASE OF A NEW HYPERBARIC SYSTEM
FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER
$450,000SCANNERS AND AI-SUPPORTED DIGITAL ANALYSIS SOFTWARE