Science of Organizations
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 4, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers at academic institutions, universities, and research organizations conducting basic research on organizational science. Projects must use rigorous scientific methods to advance fundamental understanding of how organizations develop, operate, and change. Research must yield generalizable insights applicable to business practitioners, policymakers, and research communities. Projects focused solely on implementing training programs or evaluating specific organizational change initiatives without advancing generalizable knowledge are not eligible.
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Program description
Organizations — private and public, established and entrepreneurial, designed and emergent, formal and informal, profit and nonprofit — are critical to the well-being of nations and their citizens. They are of crucial importance for producing goods and services, creating value, providing jobs, and achieving social goals. The Science of Organizations (SoO) program funds basic research that yields a scientific evidence base for improving the design and emergence, development and deployment, and management and ultimate effectiveness of organizations of all kinds.
SoO funds research that advances our fundamental understanding of how organizations develop, form and operate. Successful SoO research proposals use scientific methods to develop and refine theories, to empirically test theories and frameworks, and to develop new measures and methods. Funded research is aimed at yielding generalizable insights that are of value to the business practitioner, policy-maker and research communities.
SoO welcomes any and all rigorous, scientific approaches that illuminate aspects of organizations as systems of coordination, management and governance.
In considering whether a particular project might be a candidate for consideration by SoO, please note:
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Intellectual perspectives may involve (but are not limited to) organizational theory, behavior, sociology or economics, business policy and strategy, communication sciences, entrepreneurship, human resource management, information sciences, managerial and organizational cognition, operations management, public administration, social or industrial psychology, and technology and innovation management.
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Phenomena studied may include (but are not limited to) structures, routines, effectiveness, competitiveness, innovation, dynamics, change and evolution.
- Levels of analysis may include (but are not limited to) organizational, cross-organizational collaborations or relationships, and institutional and can address individuals, groups or teams.
- Research methods may be qualitative and quantitative and may include (but are not limited to) archival analyses, surveys, simulation studies, experiments, comparative case studies, and network analyses.
Consistent with NSF merit review criteria, each SoO proposal should discuss both the intellectual merit and the potential broader impacts of the proposed research. SoO values basic research that has the potential to provide broader societal benefits. However, the majority of space in any proposal will need to be dedicated to the explication of theory, methods, and specific contribution to the evidence base about organizational effectiveness.
Projects that aim to implement and subsequently evaluate particular organizational training, effectiveness or change programs, rather than to advance fundamental, generalizable knowledge, are not appropriate for SoO.
Researchers who seek to conduct SoO-appropriate research in an industrial site and/or via an industry-university collaboration are invited to also look at the Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaisons with Industry (GOALI) program web site.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NSF Standard Form (SF-424)
- Project Narrative
- References Cited
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel
- Current/Pending Support Disclosure
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.075 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$38,357,018
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$18,499,999
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$13,999,656
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$10,999,998
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$8,043,354
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$7,998,747
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$5,500,000
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$5,237,549
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$5,200,000
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$5,047,151
Top States by Funding
- MI 9 awards $94.1M
- DC 6 awards $20.6M
- NY 9 awards $17.0M
- MA 7 awards $16.9M
- IL 4 awards $16.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.075). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $292,390,000 | |
| 2025 | $219,410,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $92,200,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for the Science of Organizations grant?
Researchers affiliated with academic institutions, universities, and research organizations can apply. Individuals from industry can apply via university partnerships using the GOALI program.
What kind of research does SoO fund?
Basic research that advances fundamental understanding of organizations as systems of coordination, management, and governance. Research must use rigorous scientific methods and yield generalizable insights.
What topics are within scope?
Organizational theory, behavior, sociology, economics, entrepreneurship, human resources, operations management, public administration, innovation, and organizational change. Research can examine structures, effectiveness, competitiveness, and evolution.
Is my project competitive if it's focused on implementing a training program?
No. Projects must advance generalizable knowledge, not just implement and evaluate specific organizational programs at a single site.
What research methods are acceptable?
Both qualitative and quantitative methods work. Acceptable approaches include experiments, surveys, case studies, archival analyses, simulations, and network analyses.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Lead with intellectual merit and theoretical contribution. Demonstrate how your research advances fundamental understanding of organizations.
- Clearly separate basic research from applied program evaluation. Show why your findings matter beyond a single organization.
- Specify your level of analysis. Clarify whether you're studying individuals, teams, organizations, or cross-organizational systems.
- Use rigorous, established methods. Justify your approach with references to organizational science literature.
- Address broader impacts explicitly. Explain how your findings benefit practitioners, policymakers, or society.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals focused on implementing and evaluating a specific training or change program fail. Insufficient emphasis on theoretical contribution and generalizable insights gets rejected. Weak research design or lack of scientific rigor undermines competitiveness.
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