Strategic Grant Application Process
Submission windows and step-by-step application guidance
Review the submission windows and application steps below to understand the Strategic Grants process and timeline.
Three-Period Grant Submission Cycle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note: All deadlines are 5 PM Pacific Time Zone | Last Submission Grant Cycle | Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 |
| LOI Submission Period | October 15–December 26, 2025 | March 9–April 9, 2026 | July 1–August 10, 2026 | October 15–November 20, 2026 |
| LOI Decision for Eligible Organizations and Projects | By January 31, 2026 | By May 31, 2026 | By September 30, 2026 | By January 31, 2027 |
| Full Application Submission Period for Approved LOIs | February 1–March 20, 2026 | June 1–July 21, 2026 | October 1–December 1, 2026 | February 1–March 20, 2027 |
| Receive Grant Decision | August 2026 grants meeting | December 2026 grants meeting | April 2027 grants meeting | 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
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.
- Review our current LOI and application submission periods at the top of this page to determine the right time to submit.
- 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 in to our portal and start the inquiry process.
- Register for a Murdock Trust Grants Portal user login via Submittable.
- Log in 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 and you are within an LOI submission period, 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 aligned with current funding priorities. LOIs received during the LOI submission periods will receive formal decisions by the end of the 3-month window. Organizations that do not meet eligibility guidelines will receive declination notices as soon as possible.
Submit & Review
Complete your application and wait to hear back.
Complete Application
- If your LOI is approved, you will receive an invitation to begin the application process in our grants portal. Note our application submission windows above.
- 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 4-6 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 one year 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.