Major Murdock Trust Investment Marks a Milestone for iSector

Jan 14, 2026 | News

Holiday Update & Funding News–

As we look back on an incredibly productive year, we are grateful for the leaders, partners, and communities who make our work possible. This year has brought significant progress across multiple fronts, from statewide housing and rural capacity-building, to supporting innovation in the mass timber sector and cross-sector partnerships across a variety of initiatives. The message is becoming clearer that we cannot solve 21st century problems with 20th century structures. Fragmentation is failing communities and multi-sector partnership delivers.

We are excited to close out 2025 by sharing a major new investment from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, as well as a new Business Oregon award supporting our statewide housing assistance work. These grants strengthen our long-term capacity and position iSector for continued growth in 2026.

   – Greg Wolf        

Murdock Trust Grant Awarded

We are pleased to announce a $454,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. This three-year investment is a significant milestone for iSector, strengthening our long-term sustainability and supporting our business and organizational development plans.

The Murdock Trust’s decision reflects a strong endorsement of iSector’s multi-sector model and mission. In awarding the grant, the Trust noted that their support recognizes our positive impact and growing value to communities and partners across the state.

This award also ensures organizational capacity and leadership stability as we continue developing new programs and expanding statewide initiatives. It follows a yearlong, highly collaborative process involving staff, board members, and key partners.

We are deeply grateful to the Murdock Trust for their investment in our future, and to the many iSector Board Members who contributed to the planning, meetings, and documentation that made this award possible.

Business Oregon Infrastructure Grant

iSector has received a $100,000 Housing Infrastructure Support Fund (HISF) grant from Business Oregon. These funds advance our statewide housing technical assistance work and help us guide communities through feasibility, site readiness, planning, and project development needs.

Through this award, iSector will continue multi-sector work on behalf of Oregon communities that are eager to move workforce and middle-income housing forward but face capacity, financing, and administrative barriers. Our support can include:

      • site review and prioritization
      • infrastructure assessment
      • funding alignment
      • and public/private partnership development

We aim to support small and rural jurisdictions and look forward to partnering with local leaders to turn housing concepts into real projects. Communities interested in exploring housing feasibility or project development support in 2026 are encouraged to contact us directly at info@iSector.org.

 

Oregon Housing Innovation Partnership (HIP) Report Coming Soon

In collaboration with ECONorthwest and the Oregon Community Foundation, we are developing a statewide housing innovation analysis. A preview of this work was shared at the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit earlier in December, featuring an interactive game show session that highlighted barriers to housing production, bold ideas for consideration, and the coordinated multi-sector action required to accelerate statewide housing development. 

A full report will be released in early 2026. Learn more about the HIP here.

 

Looking Ahead to 2026

With new resources, we will continue to expand our work across Oregon, including:

These investments strengthen iSector’s ability to help Oregon communities move ideas into action, and to turn innovative concepts into real outcomes on the ground.

 

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. From all of us at iSector, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a hopeful start to the new year!