As our name implies, PIR serves the public interest online. Based in Reston, Virginia, Public Interest Registry is a nonprofit organization created by the Internet Society to manage the .ORG domain. Today, PIR proudly manages .ORG and the .ORG Family of Domains, and will continue to strive to be an exemplary registry operator and support mission-driven entities—from small grassroots movements to large associations— utilizing these domains to promote their causes.
We are also active participants with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and within the global Internet community.
We never forget that the communities we serve rely on us for their trusted online identity to pursue their missions. Our domains will always be a trusted home. PIR will support our domains by balancing our policy efforts and freedom of expression and by striving to find ways to help orgs succeed. These principles drive PIR’s values of bold stewardship, unwavering integrity, relentless commitment, and honoring people, and are the core of everything we do in the pursuit of our mission.
PIR’s mission is to be an exemplary domain name registry and industry thought leader providing a trusted digital identity and serving as a valued resource to those working to improve our world.
SERVING THE PUBLIC INTEREST®
For more than two decades, PIR has been a champion for a free and open Internet with a clear mission to provide mission-driven organizations with a trusted digital identity and serve as a valued resource to those working to improve our world.
At PIR, our passion is empowering mission-driven organizations to shine online. Our team is a vibrant mix of dedicated, experienced, and diverse professionals, all united by a shared commitment to being an exemplary registry operator in the DNS community and empowering the mission-driven organizations of our .ORG Community online. We invite you to meet the inspiring individuals on our executive team, Board of Directors, and Advisory Council who are at the heart of our mission.
The Internet Society is a nonprofit organization working to ensure the Internet remains a force of good for everyone. Together with its global community, the Internet Society promotes Internet policies, standards, and protocols that keep the Internet open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy.
In 2002, the Internet Society created Public Interest Registry (PIR), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation to manage, enhance, and expand the .ORG domain. The Internet Society is also responsible for appointing the PIR Board of Directors.
Sharing common goals, PIR provides considerable financial and advocacy support to the Internet Society in its efforts to defend and promote Internet policies, standards, and protocols that keep the Internet open, globally connected, and secure. For more information, please visit: www.internetsociety.org.
View our annual reports, Form 990s, or find out more about our Policies and Anti-Abuse Processes.
Every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a reminder that protecting the Internet is a shared responsibility. For Public Interest Registry (PIR), that commitment extends far beyond one month. As the nonprofit registry operator of the .ORG Family of Domains, we work year-round to help keep the Internet a place where mission-driven organizations and individuals can […]
A new sponsorship programme aims to help domain registrars ‘disrupt’ criminal businesses Criminals running commercial child sexual abuse websites will be targeted under a new safety initiative which aims to disrupt their ability to buy domain names for their sites. Today, Public Interest Registry (PIR), the US non-profit that operates the .ORG Top-Level Domain, and […]
The Fund for Congolese Women named 2025 .ORG of the Year, selected from nearly 3,000 applicants from more than 120 countries Washington D.C. — Public Interest Registry (PIR), the people behind the .ORG domain, announced the winners of the 2025 .ORG Impact Awards, an annual celebration recognizing and rewarding outstanding mission-driven individuals and organizations from […]
The call for PIR Advisory Council applications will be open from September 10, 2025 to November 19, 2025. Interested individuals can nominate themselves or other candidates at the link below. NOMINATE NOW Public Interest Registry (PIR) announced today that it is accepting applications for its Advisory Council. The Advisory Council helps PIR in its mission […]
35 innovative, mission-driven organizations and changemakers selected from nearly 3,000 applicants across more than 120 countries Reston, VA — Public Interest Registry (PIR), the people behind the .ORG domain, named the finalists for the 7th annual .ORG Impact Awards on Tuesday and announced that philanthropist and activist Common will host this year’s awards ceremony in […]
By Jon Nevett, President and CEO, Public Interest Registry Today, we’re proud to mark an extraordinary milestone: the 40th anniversary of the .ORG domain. When the first .ORG was registered on July 10th, 1985 by Mitre Corporation, a nonprofit consulting company, little did anyone know that .ORG would grow into a powerful engine for change […]
By Judy Song-Marshall, Chief Strategy Officer, Public Interest Registry We are thrilled to share that Public Interest Registry’s dedication to uplifting mission-driven organizations and individuals has been recognized on a major stage! The .ORG Impact Awards, ORG In Action, and the Three Letters that Change the World campaign proudly showcase the inspiring stories of changemakers […]
PIR increases age limit of “Rising Star” category from 25 to under 30 Winners eligible for prize donations up to $50,000 USD out of $180,000 USD total prize awards RESTON, Va. – Public Interest Registry (PIR), the nonprofit stewards of the .ORG domain, today opened the nomination period for its seventh annual .ORG Impact Awards, […]
By Jon Nevett, PIR President & CEO As the world recognizes Safer Internet Day – an international day dedicated to promoting safety and well-being online – Public Interest Registry (PIR) is taking a moment to share the ways we actively work to create a safer Internet all year long. At PIR, we see protecting the […]
We are pleased to announce that SWGfL has partnered with Public Interest Registry (PIR) and Nominet – the guardians of .UK, two of the leading domain name registries to further the removal of non-consensually shared intimate images (NCII) from the internet. This partnership will enable these registries to address NCII which has been adjudicated by […]
