Organizations

Nuffield College, Oxford A graduate-only college of the University of Oxford founded in 1937, specialising in the social sciences and known for its research focus, postgraduate community and role in public…

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Oak Ridge Associated Universities A U.S. consortium of higher education institutions that partners with national laboratories and manages ORISE for the U.S. Department of Energy, supporting research, training, and…

Occidental College: history, academics, campus, and notable alumni Occidental College Occidental College (often called Oxy) is a private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, founded in 1887; known for a core curriculum, undergraduate research, Division III athletics…

Occitan Wikipedia The Occitan-language edition of Wikipedia, launched in December 2003. A community-run encyclopedia for speakers of Occitan, covering regional culture, language topics, and general…

Occupy movement: grassroots protests against economic and social inequality Occupy movement A decentralized international protest movement originating in 2011 that used public occupations and consensus assemblies to challenge economic inequality, corporate influence, and…

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Oceania Football Confederation Regional governing body for association football in the Pacific. Organizes competitions, manages World Cup qualifying participation, and supports member associations across Oceania…

OCLC: Cooperative Library Services and the WorldCat Union Catalog OCLC OCLC is a nonprofit, member-governed library service and research organization best known for WorldCat, a global union catalog and infrastructure that supports cataloging, discover…

Odd Future Records Independent record imprint created by Tyler, The Creator in 2011 to release and promote music by the Odd Future collective and affiliated artists from Los Angeles.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) OECD The OECD is an intergovernmental organisation of mostly democratic, market-economy countries that produces data, analysis and policy guidance aimed at improving economic and social…

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA is the UN office established in 1991 to coordinate international humanitarian response, mobilize resources, shape policy, and provide information and advocacy during crises wo…

Office of Strategic Services (OSS) — U.S. World War II Intelligence Agency Office of Strategic Services The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the United States' World War II intelligence and special-operations organization. It conducted espionage, analysis, covert action and sha…

Ofsted: England's Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills Ofsted Independent inspectorate for education and children's services in England, responsible for school inspections, reports and regulatory oversight under statute and government funding…

Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) — NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference Ohio Valley Conference Regional NCAA Division I conference founded in 1948. The OVC sponsors multiple men's and women's sports, fields football at the FCS level and maintains headquarters in Brentwood, T…

Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) — Louisville developmental wrestling promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling Ohio Valley Wrestling, founded in 1997 in Louisville, Kentucky, is a professional wrestling promotion and training school known for serving as a developmental territory for major c…

Oita Trinita Oita Trinita is a professional Japanese football club based in Ōita on Kyushu, known for its blue kits, the Ōita Bank Dome (Big Eye) and winning the 2008 J.League Cup.

OMF International (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) OMF International Inter‑denominational Protestant missionary society founded by Hudson Taylor in 1865 as the China Inland Mission; now focused on church planting and Christian service across East an…

Ōmiya Ardija Omiya Ardija Ōmiya Ardija is a professional football club based in the Ōmiya ward of Saitama, Japan, known for its orange kit, squirrel emblem and participation in Japan's J.League system.

Once Caldas (Colombian football club) Once Caldas Once Caldas is a professional football club from Manizales, Colombia, best known for winning the 2004 Copa Libertadores. The club plays in Colombia's top division and is a key spor…

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC): mission, XO laptop and educational software One Laptop Per Child OLPC is a nonprofit project from MIT that designed the XO laptop and Sugar learning environment to provide low-cost, child-friendly computing in low-income regions.

oneworld (airline alliance) Oneworld oneworld is a global airline alliance founded in 1999 that coordinates schedules, ticketing and frequent-flyer benefits among member carriers; headquartered in New York City.

OPEC — Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC OPEC is an international organization of oil-producing states that coordinates petroleum policies, seeks to stabilize markets and influences global oil supply and prices.

Open Handset Alliance A consortium of device makers, carriers and technology companies formed in 2007 to promote open standards for mobile devices and to coordinate work around the Android platform.

OpenStreetMap — the collaborative open geographic database OpenStreetMap OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a community-built, editable map and open database of geographic information for the world, used for navigation, research, humanitarian response and many apps…

Opus Dei (Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei) Opus Dei A personal prelature of the Roman Catholic Church promoting holiness in ordinary life, founded by St. Josemaría Escrivá; explains structure, spirituality, history, activities, and…

Orange Caramel (South Korean K-pop sub-unit) Orange Caramel Orange Caramel is a South Korean pop sub-unit of After School formed in 2010. The trio—Nana, Raina and Lizzy—became known for playful, concept-driven songs, vivid visuals and indiv…

Orchestre de Paris Major French symphony orchestra founded in 1967, central to Parisian cultural life; known for wide repertoire, recordings, tours and performances at Salle Pleyel and the Philharmon…

Order of Santiago A medieval Spanish military-religious order founded in the 12th century to protect pilgrims and fight in the Reconquista; later became a powerful landowning and honorific instituti…

Order of the Phoenix (fictional secret society) Order of the Phoenix Fictional secret organisation in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter saga formed to oppose Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters; central to the fifth book and active across the series' two…

Order of the Solar Temple — origins, beliefs, events and legacy Order of the Solar Temple Neutral summary of the Order of the Solar Temple: founders, beliefs, organization, the series of ritualized deaths in the 1990s, investigations, and its place in studies of new rel…

Ordnance Survey National mapping agency of Great Britain producing detailed maps, digital geographic data and the OS National Grid; headquartered in Southampton and serving government, businesses…

Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.): history, organization, and practices Ordo Templi Orientis Overview of Ordo Templi Orientis, an international fraternal and religious organization linked to Thelema; its structure, rites (including the Gnostic Mass), history, and public pr…

Orduspor — Turkish football club from Ordu Orduspor Orduspor is a professional football club founded in 1967 in Ordu, Turkey. The club has regional significance, a devoted local following, distinct colours and a history of promotion…

ORF — Österreichischer Rundfunk, Austria's public broadcaster ORF (broadcaster) ORF (Österreichischer Rundfunk) is Austria's public-service radio and television organization, operating national and regional channels, streaming services, and participating in in…

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons The OPCW is the independent international organisation implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention, overseeing destruction and verification of chemical weapons, providing assistan…

Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) Organisation internationale de la Francophonie Intergovernmental organisation that brings together states and governments tied by the French language and shared cultural, educational and political cooperation.

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation: purpose, structure, and activities Organisation of Islamic Cooperation An overview of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC): its purpose, history, membership, structure, main activities and notable characteristics.

Commissioner for Philately and Scripophily (Soviet organization) Organisation of the Commissioner for Philately and Scripophily Soviet-era agency created in 1922 to oversee stamps and collectible securities; coordinated philatelic activity, managed sales of collectibles abroad, and served cultural and fisca…

Organization: concept, structures, history, functions and types Organization An overview of organization as a concept and a group: definitions, characteristics, historical development, common types, roles and practical importance in coordinating people and…

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe The OSCE is the largest regional security organization, with 57 participating states across Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North America. It works on conflict prevention, h…

Organization of American States Regional organization of the Americas promoting democracy, human rights, security and development; created by the 1948 Charter and headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Örgryte IS — Swedish sports club and historic football team Örgryte IS Örgryte IS (ÖIS) is a multi-sport association from Gothenburg, Sweden, best known for its football section and early dominance in Swedish national championships.

Oriel College, Oxford Oriel College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, tracing its origins to 1324. It is noted for medieval architecture, a historic foundation, and debates about its…

Orphanage An orphanage is a residential institution for children without parental care. This article describes its purpose, organization, history, criticisms, and alternatives such as foster…

Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar Venezuelan national youth orchestra formed within El Sistema; renowned for high-level young musicians, social-education mission, international tours, recordings and leadership unde…

Östers IF Östers IF is a Swedish association football club from Växjö, founded in 1930. Noted for national titles in 1968, 1978, 1980 and 1981 and a Svenska Cupen win in 1977.

Ottawa Senators (original hockey club, 1883–1954) Ottawa Senators (original) Historic Ottawa hockey club founded in 1883, a founding NHL member that played professionally from 1917–1934 and left a lasting legacy on Canadian ice hockey history.

Our Revolution: U.S. progressive political organization born from Sanders 2016 campaign Our Revolution Our Revolution is a U.S. progressive political organization formed after Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign to sustain grassroots organizing, endorse candidates, and advocate progressiv…

Outlaw motorcycle club A motorcycle club outside American Motorcyclist Association sanction, often called one-percenter clubs; a subculture with distinct symbols, chapter structures, bylaws and contested…