Orgs

Orgs, short for organizations, are social entities formed to achieve common aims. They can be formal legal entities or informal groups and encompass a wide range of forms, including corporations, nonprofit organizations, charities, government agencies, associations, clubs, cooperatives, and professional societies. The exact structure and duties of an org depend on its legal form and jurisdiction, but many share common features: a defined mission, a membership or stakeholder base, and a governance framework.

Governance typically includes a board or trustees that set strategic direction and policies, an executive or management team responsible for daily operations, and various committees or departments. Legal recognition as an organization may bring benefits such as limited liability, tax status, or access to funding, but it also imposes regulatory obligations including reporting, auditing, and fiduciary duties to beneficiaries, customers, or members.

Orgs pursue a broad range of activities: delivering goods or services, conducting research, advocating for policy changes, fundraising, and community development. They often rely on volunteers or staff, memberships, donations, grants, or market revenue, and may undergo lifecycle stages from formation and growth to mergers, splits, or dissolution.

The term is commonly used with the domain suffix .org, originally reserved for organizations but now open to a wide array of entities. See also nonprofit, NGO, corporation, cooperative, and association.