Organizations

Loyola University Chicago Private Jesuit university in Chicago founded in 1870, with multiple campuses, professional schools, and a focus on service, scholarship, and health sciences.

Lucasfilm American film and television production company founded by George Lucas; creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, home to ILM and Skywalker Sound, and a Disney subsidiary since 2012…

Lucasfilm Animation Animation division of Lucasfilm that produces Star Wars animated TV series and films; notable for The Clone Wars, collaborations across Lucasfilm Singapore, and integration into Di…

Lunar Society of Birmingham: an informal network of science, industry and reform Lunar Society of Birmingham An influential informal club of industrialists, scientists and intellectuals in late 18th‑century Midlands England, meeting by full moon to discuss industry, natural philosophy and…

Macmillan Cancer Support — UK cancer information and care charity Macmillan Cancer Support Macmillan Cancer Support is a major UK charity offering practical, emotional, medical and financial help to people affected by cancer, plus information, campaigning and community s…

Madrid Symphony Orchestra (Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid) Madrid Symphony Orchestra Professional symphony orchestra founded in Madrid in 1903, notable for premieres of Spanish repertoire, its long association with zarzuela, and a central role in Spain's musical li…

Magdalen College, Oxford Magdalen College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, founded in 1458; noted for its medieval architecture, riverside grounds, May Morning choir tradition and a lo…

Make‑A‑Wish Foundation Make-A-Wish Foundation Nonprofit that arranges wishes for children with critical illnesses. Covers eligibility, how wishes are granted, organizational structure, typical wish types, notable supporters, a…

Man of Korea (Korea Men's Association) Man of Korea South Korean nonprofit advocacy group formed in 2008 to represent men’s concerns, known for campaigning against perceived gender-based bias, legal reform proposals, and contentious…

Manhattan Chess Club Historic New York City chess institution founded in 1877, influential in American chess until its closure in 2002; home to tournaments, study, and many leading players.

Mansfield College, Oxford: history, architecture, and academic role Mansfield College, Oxford Mansfield College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, founded as a nonconformist theological college in 1838 and re-established in Oxford in 1886. It became a ful…

Marquette University Private Jesuit university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in the late 19th century; offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, with an urban campus, research activi…

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Marylebone Cricket Club Historic London cricket club founded in 1787; owner of Lord's, long-time custodian of the Laws of Cricket, organiser of teams and custodians of cricket heritage and tradition.

Mascot: definition, forms, history and uses Mascot A mascot is a person, animal, or object used as a symbol, good-luck charm, or promotional figure for teams, schools, companies, and brands.

Mashgiach — Jewish Supervisor of Kosher Food Production Mashgiach A mashgiach is a Jewish supervisor who oversees kashrut (kosher) compliance in food processing and service, applying halachic rules, monitoring ingredients and equipment, and repre…

Matariki Network of Universities An international alliance of seven research-led universities formed in 2010 to promote collaboration in teaching, research and cultural exchange; named after the Māori star cluster…

Matenadaran (Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts) Matenadaran A major repository and research center in Yerevan preserving tens of thousands of Armenian and foreign manuscripts, early printed books, and illuminated codices; a national cultura…

Mauritanian Association for Human Rights (AMDH) Mauritanian Association for Human Rights AMDH is a Mauritanian non-governmental organization, founded in 1991, that monitors rights violations, provides legal support, and advocates on issues such as discrimination, slave…

Medical University of Innsbruck Public medical university in Innsbruck, Austria. Independent since 2004, it combines medical education, clinical care and biomedical research and is linked to Innsbruck University…

Members of the United Nations An overview of UN membership: criteria and admission, historic expansion, rights and responsibilities of member states, observer distinctions, and notable facts about the organizat…

Memory of the World Programme UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme identifies, preserves and improves access to the world's documentary heritage, including manuscripts, archives, audio-visual records and othe…

Mensa — meanings, organizations, constellation and other uses Mensa Mensa is a Latin word meaning 'table' and a term with diverse uses: an international high‑IQ society, a southern constellation, planetary geological features, language senses, and…

Mensa International: purpose, membership, history and activities Mensa International Mensa International is a voluntary, non-profit society for people who score at or above the 98th percentile on approved intelligence tests, offering social, educational and researc…

Merton College, Oxford: history, architecture, and academic life Merton College, Oxford Merton College, founded by Walter de Merton in 1264, is a historic constituent college of the University of Oxford with medieval buildings, notable architecture such as Mob Quad, a…

Mexican Football Federation (FMF) Mexican Football Federation The Mexican Football Federation (Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación) is the governing body for football in Mexico, responsible for national teams, refereeing, competitions ov…

Mexican Mafia (La Eme): U.S.-based prison gang and criminal organization Mexican Mafia Overview of the Mexican Mafia (La Eme), a prison-originated U.S. criminal gang: origins, organization, activities, influence on street gangs and legal responses.

Mid-American Conference (MAC) Mid-American Conference The Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I athletic conference centered in the Great Lakes region of the United States, sponsoring multiple men's and women's sports and comp…

Middle Temple: One of the Four Inns of Court Middle Temple The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple is one of four historic Inns of Court in London. It trains, admits and disciplines barristers, maintains legal libraries and historic bu…

MindFreedom International: advocacy coalition for psychiatric survivors and human rights MindFreedom International MindFreedom International is a US-based coalition founded in 1990 that campaigns against forced psychiatric practices and promotes the rights and alternatives for people labeled wi…

Mission statement: purpose, components, history, and practical examples Mission statement A mission statement succinctly states an organization’s purpose, primary stakeholders, main activities, and chosen approach. This article explains its parts, history, practical use…

Missionaries of Charity Roman Catholic religious congregation founded by Mother Teresa in 1950 to serve the poorest of the poor worldwide; known for its white-and-blue habit, simple vows and global networ…

Missouri Department of Conservation State agency established by Missouri voters in 1936 to protect and manage fish, forests and wildlife; operates lands, hatcheries, education and enforcement under an appointed Conse…

Missouri Valley Conference A historic U.S. collegiate athletic conference founded from the 1907 MVIAA; known today for mid‑major basketball, multiple men's and women's sports, and a continuous institutional…

Missouri Valley Football Conference A collegiate athletic conference of 11 Midwestern schools that competes in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football; formed from earlier regional leagues an…

Archbishop Moeller High School Moeller High School All-boys Catholic college-preparatory high school near Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 1960 and operated by the Marianists; noted for a strong athletics program and college-prep curri…

Moliniana — Chilean botanical journal (1955–1966) Moliniana Moliniana was a Santiago-based botanical periodical published 1955–1966 that focused on plant taxonomy, phytochemistry and Chilean floristics, with contributions from noted mid-20t…

Montreal Canadiens: History, identity, and legacy of the Habs Montreal Canadiens Overview of the Montreal Canadiens (the Habs), their origins, identity, arena, rivalries and cultural impact, plus their record Stanley Cup success and notable players.

Moody Bible Institute (Chicago) Moody Bible Institute Christian educational institution founded in 1886 in Chicago by D. L. Moody, known for its Bible-focused degree programs and for ministries in education, radio broadcasting, and pu…

Moral Majority: U.S. conservative Christian political movement Moral Majority The Moral Majority was a prominent late-20th-century U.S. conservative Christian political organization that mobilized evangelical voters around social issues, lobbying, litigation…

Morgan Stanley: American multinational investment bank and financial services firm Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley is a New York–based multinational investment bank and financial services company offering investment banking, wealth management, trading, and asset management to ins…

Moscow State University (Lomonosov Moscow State University) Moscow State University Russia's oldest and largest higher-education institution, founded in 1755; known for its historic main building, broad academic programs, and role in Russian science and culture.

Mossad: Israel's Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations Mossad Overview of Mossad — Israel's foreign intelligence and covert-operations service: role, organization, history, notable activities, methods, oversight and controversies.

Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Motion Picture Sound Editors An honorary organization founded in 1953 that champions the craft of cinematic sound editing, recognizes achievement, provides resources and fosters professional ties among sound e…

Motto: Definition, History, and Uses Motto A motto is a brief phrase or sentence expressing the guiding belief, purpose, or ethos of an individual, group, institution, or state; used in heraldry, national symbols, corporati…

Mountain West Conference: U.S. Division I collegiate athletics league Mountain West Conference The Mountain West Conference is a U.S. Division I collegiate athletic conference based in the Western United States, known for its football FBS membership and strong mid-major prog…

MoveOn: U.S. progressive advocacy organization and political action group MoveOn MoveOn (formerly MoveOn.org) is a U.S. progressive advocacy organization and political action group founded in 1998 in response to the Clinton impeachment, known for pioneering onl…

Mozilla Foundation: steward of the open web and the Mozilla project Mozilla Foundation Nonprofit organization that supports the open-source Mozilla project, sets policies and manages trademarks, and oversees a for‑profit subsidiary that develops Firefox and other pro…

MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha): origins, organization, and societal impact MS-13 An encyclopedic overview of MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha), summarizing its origins, structure, common activities, cultural markers, and the law-enforcement and community responses acros…