Science of Organizations (SoO)
Open
U.S. National Science Foundation is offering grants to any type of organization. It expects to make about 20 awards worth $3.3 million in total. Applications close on October 15, 2076.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed October 15, 2026. Checked October 31, 2026.
- Award ceilingnot stated
- Award floornot stated
- Expected awards20
- Total funding$3.3 million
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Key dates
| Posted | August 8, 2011 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | October 15, 2076 |
Add the deadline to your calendar
Who can apply
This opportunity is open to any type of organization.
- Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
Is this a realistic fit?
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
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: 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. 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.
How to apply
- Read the full notice and attachments on Grants.gov and the agency's announcement. The notice is the official source for deadlines and requirements.
- Make sure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID; registration can take several weeks.
- Register on Grants.gov and submit through Workspace before the deadline and time given in the notice. Our application guide walks through each step.
Questions go to U.S. National Science Foundation, grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, 703-292-4203.
Questions people ask
Who can apply for Science of Organizations (SoO)?
U.S. National Science Foundation accepts applications from any type of organization.
What is the deadline for Science of Organizations (SoO)?
Closes October 15, 2076 (18247 days left). Confirm the date and time in the official notice on Grants.gov.
How much funding is available?
About $3.3 million in total across about 20 awards.
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