Open 2026 Period 3 Strategic Project Grant Letter of Inquiry. The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is accepting initial inquiries October 15–November 11, 2026 for capacity-building projects with substantial benefits in the Pacific Northwest. The official deadline is November 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Organizations invited after LOI review may apply in the January 27–March 1, 2027 full-application window; decisions are scheduled for the August 2027 trustees meeting.
Who can apply: Eligible applicants generally include U.S. 501(c)(3) public charities, federally recognized tribal entities, qualifying governmental universities or medical centers, and eligible external-facing faith communities. Applicants should be based in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon or Washington, or show that more than half of project impact occurs in those states. Eligible faith-based organizations in British Columbia may also qualify. Organizations must generally have at least three full years of operating and financial history. Fiscal-sponsored organizations, public K–12 school districts, public libraries, most park and emergency-service departments, individuals and commercial enterprises are ineligible.
Individual funding: Requests must be at least $100,000 and the total project budget must be at least $200,000. The funder does not publish a universal applicant award maximum; these minimums are not maximum awards or an overall funding pool. Project-specific contribution and financing conditions depend on the grant type.
What the grants support: New program and staff capacity, eligible construction or renovation projects, and significant new equipment and technology for qualified nonprofits and related institutions in the Trust’s currently approved sectors. These include certain health clinics, mental-health programs, disability-support organizations, higher-education and scientific research institutions, community services, food-security initiatives and eligible secondary-school programs. Sector-specific exclusions and prioritization rules apply.
Matching and other restrictions: Equipment and technology grantees must contribute at least 50% of purchase cost. For capital projects, the Trust prioritizes organizations that have raised at least 40% of the project cost before trustee decision; that is a priority, not a universal mandatory match. Routine operating expenses, existing staff time, deficits, debt retirement, subgrant/pass-through schemes, purely short-term events, standalone studies, and retroactive equipment purchases are excluded. Program and staff support is typically structured on a declining three-year basis. See the funder’s detailed category rules before preparing a request.
How to apply: Review the official Strategic Project Grant Eligibility Guidelines and focus-area rules, open the Trust’s Submittable portal, complete the initial eligibility quiz and then submit the Letter of Inquiry during the published window. A full application is available only after an invitation. Proposals need a credible organizational funding plan, governance and financial history, project budget, and demonstrated alignment with the Trust’s regional priorities.
Official application and rules: 2026 Period 3 application process and eligibility and restrictions. Information verified October 27, 2026; applicants should confirm subsequent amendments directly with the funder.