Universities and federal agencies are home to many prominent research centers and institutes. In the ecological sciences, centers and institutes bring together students, postdoctoral associates, research staff, and faculty from across departments, divisions, colleges, and directorates to foster scientific excellence and innovation. Strategies for achieving those goals are diverse, yet they commonly focus on solving grand environmental and societal challenges, while promoting interdisciplinary research, education and leadership development, and engaging external partners and stakeholders. These numerous roles and functions contribute to the richness of the organization, but many fundamental questions about centers and institutes arise and would benefit from synthetic consideration and discussion. What are centers or institutes; how do they work; are there tangible value propositions that drive behaviors and dynamics; and what are the organizational and management implications of these units for their leaders? In this session we provide a forum for center and institute members and leaders to discuss their strategies and roles as champions for the Earth and environmental sciences. Speakers and panelists will highlight opportunities and challenges faced by such organizations. Ideas will be generated and shared for how centers and institutes can best support the needs of their university or home institution in areas of research, science communication, outreach, and training the next-generation of ecological scientists. Taken together, the talks will help us explore any overarching challenges and opportunities of centers and institutes, as well as determine forward-looking strategies that will help these interdisciplinary organizations remain useful and influential into the future.