Important Grant Timeline Updates
Updates to our application process and timing.
Through End of 2025: Due to a significant increase in grant applications, processing times have extended from our typical 4–6 months to 8–10 months from Letter of Inquiry (LOI) approval to final grant decision. Trust staff are working diligently to process applications as quickly as possible and are also implementing some adjustments to the LOI review and application processes to adapt to and manage significantly increased demand.
Current Processing Schedule in 2025:
Note: All deadlines are 5 PM Pacific Time Zone
- LOIs received through May 30, 2025, will receive formal decisions by July 31, 2025.
- Organizations that do not meet eligibility guidelines will receive declination notices as soon as possible.
- Eligible organizations and projects will undergo additional review by Trust staff and receive decisions on the LOIs by July 31, 2025.
- Submit full proposal (for those with approved LOIs): August 1–October 1, 2025
- Receive grant decision: April 2026 grants meeting
Next LOI Period: The next LOI submission period opens October 1, 2025, and closes December 26, 2025.
- LOIs received during this period will receive formal decisions by January 31, 2026.
- Organizations that do not meet eligibility guidelines will receive declination notices as soon as possible.
- Eligible organizations and projects will undergo additional review by Trust staff and receive decisions on the LOIs by January 31, 2026.
- Submit full proposal (for those with approved LOIs): February 1–April 1, 2026
- Receive grant decision: August 2026 grants meeting
Starting in 2026: New Three-Period Annual Cycle
Note: All deadlines are 5 PM Pacific Time Zone
Beginning in 2026, we will implement three LOI submission periods each year:
Period 1
- Submit LOI: February 1–April 30
- Receive LOI decision: May 31
- Submit full proposal (if approved): June 1–August 1
- Receive grant decision: December 2026 grants meeting
Period 2
- Submit LOI: June 1–August 31
- Receive LOI decision: September 30
- Submit full proposal (if approved): October 1–December 1
- Receive grant decision: April 2027 grants meeting
Period 3
- Submit LOI: October 1–December 31
- Receive LOI decision: January 31
- Submit full proposal (if approved): February 1–April 1
- Receive grant decision: August 2027 grants meeting
Planning Timeline for Organizations:
- Overall Timeline: 7–10 months from LOI submission to final grant decision (duration depends on how quickly application is completed and required materials submitted)
- Application Phase Timeline: 4–6 months from full application submission to final grant decision
For additional context and background on these application process changes, please read this blog post.
Discovery
Learn if your organization might be eligible for a grant.
- Review the Eligibility Guidelines for Grantseekers to confirm that your organization meets geographical and tax status requirements and that your project fits within the Trust’s funding priorities and limitations.
- Explore our Grants Awarded database and Grantee Stories to see if we have funded similar projects in the past.
- Look through our Nonprofit Resources to learn about grant writing tips, nonprofit development, and more.
- Direct any remaining questions to info@murdocktrust.org or 360-694-8415
Getting Started
Log into our portal and start the inquiry process.
- Register for a Murdock Trust Grants Portal user login via Submittable.
- Login to your grants portal.
- Complete the brief eligibility quiz to confirm that your organization and project are potentially eligible for a strategic project grant. If you meet eligibility criteria, a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) will be made available to you in the grants portal.
- Complete the LOI to further help the Trust determine whether your organization and project are eligible and consistent with Trust practices and priorities. You will likely receive a response to your LOI within three weeks.
Submit & Review
Complete your application and wait to hear back.
Complete Application
- If invited to submit an application, you will receive an invitation to begin the process in our grants portal.
- Fill out all fields in our application. Upload required documents.
- Review and double-check figures.
- When complete, click the Submit Form button.
Review Process
- Staff will review your documents and request additional information needed via email.
- Once the document reviewer confirms your application is complete, a program officer will be assigned to your application.
- Your program officer will schedule a site visit to discuss project details, leadership, the board, plans for executing and sustaining the project, criteria for success, and more.
- Your program officer will complete a thorough analysis and prepare a detailed report for peer review and Trustee decision.
Final Decision
Hear back typically within 6-12 months.
- Trustees review all requests and make decisions. While merit is evident in nearly every application, we are not able to award every request that we receive.
- Your program officer will contact you about the Trustees’ decision regarding your application.
- If a grant is awarded, you will receive an email requesting that you complete a form with your signer and financial contact information. Once complete, your signer will receive the grant agreement.
Resubmissions
Denied applications will not be carried over for future consideration and, under normal circumstances, are not permitted for resubmission. Declined applicants may submit a new LOI for a different project six months after decision date. We recommend exploring our Nonprofit Resources to help you with your next application.
Future Projects
Returning grantees may submit a new LOI three years after their last award date.