Victor Murdock was born in 1872 with newspaper ink in his blood. One of three children of Victoria and Colonel Marshall Murdock, the family settled in Wichita in 1872 and founded the newspaper we know today as The Wichita Eagle.
When he was old enough, Victor was put to work in the pressroom, setting type and inking the handpress. By the age of 29, he was the Eagle’s managing editor. A gifted reporter, he is credited with having written more than 3.5 million words for The Eagle during his career.
In 1890, Murdock married Pearl Allen. The couple had two daughters— Marcia Murdock Delano and Katherine Murdock Fleeson.
In 1903, Murdock went to Washington D.C., serving six terms in Congress and later on the Federal Trade Commission as the appointee of Woodrow Wilson. He returned to Wichita in 1924, taking editorial charge of The Eagle once more. He would remain as editor-in-chief until his death in 1945.
During his lifetime, he enjoyed a nation-wide reputation as a writer, speaker and public figure. First and foremost, he considered himself a writer. In a career covering 60 years, which took him to all parts of the world, he was the ultimate reporter— at home, in police court, or the halls of Congress.
Murdock’s good fortune and talents brought him many opportunities for travel and to witness history in the making. He witnessed an early flight of the Wright Brothers in Washington D.C., sent war dispatches from London in World War I as German Zeppelins raided the city, and helped form the Bull Moose party to nominate Theodore Roosevelt for president.
Murdock, like his father before him, was captivated by the spirit of Wichita. He was happiest at home in Kansas. He watched with interest as Wichita grew, attracting numerous oil & gas and aviation businesses, and new office buildings to its skyline. He delighted in meeting and interviewing local people, exploring their backgrounds and hearing their stories. He never tired of road trips to inspect the wheat harvest in Kansas and Oklahoma and was a tireless advocate for the prairie. This deep affection for Wichita and its people is reflected in the spirit of philanthropy guiding the Victor Murdock Fund.
The Fund was established in 2000 to honor Wichita Eagle founder and long-time Wichitan, Victor Murdock. His grandson, the late Victor Delano, said he started the fund “to honor my grandparents, and pay back a city that has been good to me.”
Programs that avoid duplication of existing services
Programs that facilitate collaboration among nonprofit organizations
Organizations that are fiscally sound
Programs that exhibit measureable results
What we decline
General operational expenses
Reduction of organizational debt
Direct lobbying or influencing decisions
Tax-supported government functions
Individuals
Fundraising and capital campaigns and expenses
Support of religious organizations for religious purposes
Endowments
Advertising
Eligibility
All applicants to Victor Murdock Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation must be in good standing with the Kansas Secretary of State’s office, must be currently exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3,) and classified as an organization to which contributions are deductible under Section 170(c)(2), normally a public charity under Section 509(a).
If an emerging nonprofit is certified by the Internal Revenue Service through a form 1023EZ, or is working with a qualified Kansas nonprofit as their fiscal agent, they may apply.
Grant Details
Due to the COVID-19 virus, this grant funding is temporarily being shifted. Applications will reopen in 2022. Check back periodically for updates.
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