diff --git a/packages/backend/src/db/queries/index.ts b/packages/backend/src/db/queries/index.ts
index 4fc4e73..b4eae71 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/db/queries/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/db/queries/index.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
-export * from "./users";
-export * from "./projects";
 export * from "./issues";
+export * from "./organisations";
+export * from "./projects";
+export * from "./users";
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/db/queries/organisations.ts b/packages/backend/src/db/queries/organisations.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b73a62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend/src/db/queries/organisations.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { Organisation, OrganisationMember } from "@issue/shared";
+import { eq } from "drizzle-orm";
+import { db } from "../client";
+
+export async function createOrganisation(name: string, slug: string, description?: string) {
+    const [organisation] = await db
+        .insert(Organisation)
+        .values({
+            name,
+            slug,
+            description,
+        })
+        .returning();
+    return organisation;
+}
+
+export async function createOrganisationMember(
+    organisationId: number,
+    userId: number,
+    role: string = "member",
+) {
+    const [member] = await db
+        .insert(OrganisationMember)
+        .values({
+            organisationId,
+            userId,
+            role,
+        })
+        .returning();
+    return member;
+}
+
+export async function getOrganisationById(id: number) {
+    const [organisation] = await db.select().from(Organisation).where(eq(Organisation.id, id));
+    return organisation;
+}
+
+export async function getOrganisationsByUserId(userId: number) {
+    const organisations = await db
+        .select()
+        .from(OrganisationMember)
+        .where(eq(OrganisationMember.userId, userId))
+        .innerJoin(Organisation, eq(OrganisationMember.organisationId, Organisation.id));
+    return organisations;
+}
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/db/queries/projects.ts b/packages/backend/src/db/queries/projects.ts
index c63b50f..9b44b3c 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/db/queries/projects.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/db/queries/projects.ts
@@ -2,13 +2,14 @@ import { Issue, Project, User } from "@issue/shared";
 import { eq } from "drizzle-orm";
 import { db } from "../client";
 
-export async function createProject(blob: string, name: string, ownerId: number) {
+export async function createProject(blob: string, name: string, creatorId: number, organisationId: number) {
     const [project] = await db
         .insert(Project)
         .values({
             blob,
             name,
-            ownerId,
+            creatorId,
+            organisationId,
         })
         .returning();
     return project;
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ export async function createProject(blob: string, name: string, ownerId: number)
 
 export async function updateProject(
     projectId: number,
-    updates: { blob?: string; name?: string; ownerId?: number },
+    updates: { blob?: string; name?: string; creatorId?: number; organisationId?: number },
 ) {
     const [project] = await db.update(Project).set(updates).where(eq(Project.id, projectId)).returning();
     return project;
@@ -39,13 +40,13 @@ export async function getProjectByBlob(projectBlob: string) {
     return project;
 }
 
-export async function getProjectsByOwnerID(ownerId: number) {
-    const projectsWithOwners = await db
+export async function getProjectsByCreatorID(creatorId: number) {
+    const projectsWithCreators = await db
         .select()
         .from(Project)
-        .where(eq(Project.ownerId, ownerId))
-        .leftJoin(User, eq(Project.ownerId, User.id));
-    return projectsWithOwners;
+        .where(eq(Project.creatorId, creatorId))
+        .leftJoin(User, eq(Project.creatorId, User.id));
+    return projectsWithCreators;
 }
 
 export async function getAllProjects() {
@@ -53,16 +54,19 @@ export async function getAllProjects() {
     return projects;
 }
 
-export async function getProjectsWithOwners() {
-    const projectsWithOwners = await db.select().from(Project).leftJoin(User, eq(Project.ownerId, User.id));
-    return projectsWithOwners;
-}
-
-export async function getProjectWithOwnerByID(projectId: number) {
-    const [projectWithOwner] = await db
+export async function getProjectsWithCreators() {
+    const projectsWithCreators = await db
         .select()
         .from(Project)
-        .leftJoin(User, eq(Project.ownerId, User.id))
-        .where(eq(Project.id, projectId));
-    return projectWithOwner;
+        .leftJoin(User, eq(Project.creatorId, User.id));
+    return projectsWithCreators;
+}
+
+export async function getProjectWithCreatorByID(projectId: number) {
+    const [projectWithCreator] = await db
+        .select()
+        .from(Project)
+        .leftJoin(User, eq(Project.creatorId, User.id))
+        .where(eq(Project.id, projectId));
+    return projectWithCreator;
 }
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/index.ts b/packages/backend/src/index.ts
index f615423..647b0b4 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ const main = async () => {
             "/project/create": withCors(withAuth(routes.projectCreate)),
             "/project/update": withCors(withAuth(routes.projectUpdate)),
             "/project/delete": withCors(withAuth(routes.projectDelete)),
-            "/projects/by-owner": withCors(withAuth(routes.projectsByOwner)),
+            "/projects/by-creator": withCors(withAuth(routes.projectsByCreator)),
             "/projects/all": withCors(withAuth(routes.projectsAll)),
-            "/projects/with-owners": withCors(withAuth(routes.projectsWithOwners)),
-            "/project/with-owner": withCors(withAuth(routes.projectWithOwner)),
+            "/projects/with-creators": withCors(withAuth(routes.projectsWithCreators)),
+            "/project/with-creator": withCors(withAuth(routes.projectWithCreator)),
         },
     });
 
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/routes/index.ts b/packages/backend/src/routes/index.ts
index 9afeed0..00a8535 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/routes/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/routes/index.ts
@@ -7,12 +7,12 @@ import issueUpdate from "./issue/update";
 import issuesInProject from "./issues/[projectBlob]";
 import issues from "./issues/all";
 import projectsAll from "./project/all";
-import projectsByOwner from "./project/by-owner";
+import projectsByCreator from "./project/by-creator";
 import projectCreate from "./project/create";
 import projectDelete from "./project/delete";
 import projectUpdate from "./project/update";
-import projectWithOwner from "./project/with-owner";
-import projectsWithOwners from "./project/with-owners";
+import projectWithCreator from "./project/with-creator";
+import projectsWithCreators from "./project/with-creators";
 
 export const routes = {
     issueCreate,
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ export const routes = {
     projectCreate,
     projectUpdate,
     projectDelete,
-    projectsByOwner,
+    projectsByCreator,
     projectsAll,
-    projectsWithOwners,
-    projectWithOwner,
+    projectsWithCreators,
+    projectWithCreator,
 
     authRegister,
     authLogin,
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/all.ts b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/all.ts
index 24aa525..c4b8997 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/all.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/all.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import type { BunRequest } from "bun";
-import { getProjectsWithOwners } from "../../db/queries";
+import { getProjectsWithCreators } from "../../db/queries";
 
 // /projects/all
 export default async function projectsAll(req: BunRequest) {
-    const projects = await getProjectsWithOwners();
+    const projects = await getProjectsWithCreators();
 
     return Response.json(projects);
 }
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/by-creator.ts b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/by-creator.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36c8db8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/by-creator.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import type { BunRequest } from "bun";
+import { getProjectsByCreatorID, getUserById } from "../../db/queries";
+
+// /projects/by-creator?creatorId=1
+export default async function projectsByCreator(req: BunRequest) {
+    const url = new URL(req.url);
+    const creatorId = url.searchParams.get("creatorId");
+
+    if (!creatorId) {
+        return new Response("creatorId is required", { status: 400 });
+    }
+
+    const creatorIdNumber = Number(creatorId);
+    if (!Number.isInteger(creatorIdNumber)) {
+        return new Response("creatorId must be an integer", { status: 400 });
+    }
+
+    const creator = await getUserById(creatorIdNumber);
+    if (!creator) {
+        return new Response(`user with id ${creatorId} not found`, { status: 404 });
+    }
+
+    const projects = await getProjectsByCreatorID(creator.id);
+
+    return Response.json(projects);
+}
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/by-owner.ts b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/by-owner.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 8365c64..0000000
--- a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/by-owner.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-import type { BunRequest } from "bun";
-import { getProjectsByOwnerID, getUserById } from "../../db/queries";
-
-// /projects/by-owner?ownerId=1
-export default async function projectsByOwner(req: BunRequest) {
-    const url = new URL(req.url);
-    const ownerId = url.searchParams.get("ownerId");
-
-    if (!ownerId) {
-        return new Response("ownerId is required", { status: 400 });
-    }
-
-    const ownerIdNumber = Number(ownerId);
-    if (!Number.isInteger(ownerIdNumber)) {
-        return new Response("ownerId must be an integer", { status: 400 });
-    }
-
-    const owner = await getUserById(ownerIdNumber);
-    if (!owner) {
-        return new Response(`user with id ${ownerId} not found`, { status: 404 });
-    }
-
-    const projects = await getProjectsByOwnerID(owner.id);
-
-    return Response.json(projects);
-}
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/create.ts b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/create.ts
index 2d1521e..c479bf3 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/create.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/create.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,17 @@
 import type { BunRequest } from "bun";
-import { createProject, getUserById, getProjectByBlob } from "../../db/queries";
+import { createProject, getProjectByBlob, getUserById } from "../../db/queries";
 
-// /project/create?blob=BLOB&name=Testing&ownerId=1
+// /project/create?blob=BLOB&name=Testing&creatorId=1&organisationId=1
 export default async function projectCreate(req: BunRequest) {
     const url = new URL(req.url);
     const blob = url.searchParams.get("blob");
     const name = url.searchParams.get("name");
-    const ownerId = url.searchParams.get("ownerId");
+    const creatorId = url.searchParams.get("creatorId");
+    const organisationId = url.searchParams.get("organisationId");
 
-    if (!blob || !name || !ownerId) {
+    if (!blob || !name || !creatorId || !organisationId) {
         return new Response(
-            `missing parameters: ${!blob ? "blob " : ""}${!name ? "name " : ""}${!ownerId ? "ownerId" : ""}`,
+            `missing parameters: ${!blob ? "blob " : ""}${!name ? "name " : ""}${!creatorId ? "creatorId " : ""}${!organisationId ? "organisationId" : ""}`,
             { status: 400 },
         );
     }
@@ -21,12 +22,12 @@ export default async function projectCreate(req: BunRequest) {
         return new Response(`project with blob ${blob} already exists`, { status: 400 });
     }
 
-    const owner = await getUserById(parseInt(ownerId, 10));
-    if (!owner) {
-        return new Response(`owner with id ${ownerId} not found`, { status: 404 });
+    const creator = await getUserById(parseInt(creatorId, 10));
+    if (!creator) {
+        return new Response(`creator with id ${creatorId} not found`, { status: 404 });
     }
 
-    const project = await createProject(blob, name, owner.id);
+    const project = await createProject(blob, name, creator.id, parseInt(organisationId, 10));
 
     return Response.json(project);
 }
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/update.ts b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/update.ts
index b1b817a..fc40a78 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/update.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/update.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 import type { BunRequest } from "bun";
 import { getProjectByBlob, getProjectByID, getUserById, updateProject } from "../../db/queries";
 
-// /project/update?id=1&blob=NEW&name=new%20name&ownerId=1
+// /project/update?id=1&blob=NEW&name=new%20name&creatorId=1&organisationId=1
 export default async function projectUpdate(req: BunRequest) {
     const url = new URL(req.url);
     const id = url.searchParams.get("id");
     const blob = url.searchParams.get("blob") || undefined;
     const name = url.searchParams.get("name") || undefined;
-    const ownerId = url.searchParams.get("ownerId") || undefined;
+    const creatorId = url.searchParams.get("creatorId") || undefined;
+    const organisationId = url.searchParams.get("organisationId") || undefined;
 
     if (!id) {
         return new Response(`project id is required`, { status: 400 });
@@ -18,8 +19,8 @@ export default async function projectUpdate(req: BunRequest) {
         return new Response(`project with id ${id} does not exist`, { status: 404 });
     }
 
-    if (!blob && !name && !ownerId) {
-        return new Response(`at least one of blob, name, or ownerId must be provided`, {
+    if (!blob && !name && !creatorId && !organisationId) {
+        return new Response(`at least one of blob, name, creatorId, or organisationId must be provided`, {
             status: 400,
         });
     }
@@ -29,15 +30,16 @@ export default async function projectUpdate(req: BunRequest) {
         return new Response(`a project with blob "${blob}" already exists`, { status: 400 });
     }
 
-    const newOwner = ownerId ? await getUserById(Number(ownerId)) : null;
-    if (ownerId && !newOwner) {
-        return new Response(`user with id ${ownerId} does not exist`, { status: 400 });
+    const newCreator = creatorId ? await getUserById(Number(creatorId)) : null;
+    if (creatorId && !newCreator) {
+        return new Response(`user with id ${creatorId} does not exist`, { status: 400 });
     }
 
     const project = await updateProject(Number(id), {
         blob: blob,
         name: name,
-        ownerId: newOwner?.id,
+        creatorId: newCreator?.id,
+        organisationId: organisationId ? Number(organisationId) : undefined,
     });
 
     return Response.json(project);
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-owner.ts b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-creator.ts
similarity index 57%
rename from packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-owner.ts
rename to packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-creator.ts
index 62b53a4..032f108 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-owner.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-creator.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import type { BunRequest } from "bun";
-import { getProjectWithOwnerByID } from "../../db/queries";
+import { getProjectWithCreatorByID } from "../../db/queries";
 
-// /project/with-owner?id=1
-export default async function projectWithOwnerByID(req: BunRequest) {
+// /project/with-creator?id=1
+export default async function projectWithCreatorByID(req: BunRequest) {
     const url = new URL(req.url);
     const id = url.searchParams.get("id");
 
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ export default async function projectWithOwnerByID(req: BunRequest) {
         return new Response("project id must be an integer", { status: 400 });
     }
 
-    const projectWithOwner = await getProjectWithOwnerByID(projectId);
-    if (!projectWithOwner || !projectWithOwner.Project) {
+    const projectWithCreator = await getProjectWithCreatorByID(projectId);
+    if (!projectWithCreator || !projectWithCreator.Project) {
         return new Response(`project with id ${id} not found`, { status: 404 });
     }
 
-    return Response.json(projectWithOwner);
+    return Response.json(projectWithCreator);
 }
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-creators.ts b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-creators.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ccffd5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-creators.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import type { BunRequest } from "bun";
+import { getProjectsWithCreators } from "../../db/queries";
+
+// /projects/with-creators
+export default async function projectsWithCreators(req: BunRequest) {
+    const projects = await getProjectsWithCreators();
+
+    return Response.json(projects);
+}
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-owners.ts b/packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-owners.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 770ff28..0000000
--- a/packages/backend/src/routes/project/with-owners.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-import type { BunRequest } from "bun";
-import { getProjectsWithOwners } from "../../db/queries";
-
-// /projects/with-owners
-export default async function projectsWithOwners(req: BunRequest) {
-    const projects = await getProjectsWithOwners();
-
-    return Response.json(projects);
-}
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/utils.ts b/packages/backend/src/utils.ts
index 827d3eb..c04f696 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/utils.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 import { hashPassword } from "./auth/utils";
-import { createIssue, createProject, createUser } from "./db/queries";
+import {
+    createIssue,
+    createOrganisation,
+    createOrganisationMember,
+    createProject,
+    createUser,
+} from "./db/queries";
 
 export const createDemoData = async () => {
     const passwordHash = await hashPassword("changeme");
@@ -8,10 +14,23 @@ export const createDemoData = async () => {
         throw new Error("failed to create demo user");
     }
 
+    // create demo organisation
+    const organisation = await createOrganisation(
+        "Demo Organisation",
+        "demo-org",
+        "A demo organisation for testing",
+    );
+    if (!organisation) {
+        throw new Error("failed to create demo organisation");
+    }
+
+    // add user as owner of the organisation
+    await createOrganisationMember(organisation.id, user.id, "owner");
+
     const projectNames = ["PROJ", "TEST", "SAMPLE"];
     let issuesToCreate = 3;
     for (const name of projectNames) {
-        const project = await createProject(name.slice(0, 4), name, user.id);
+        const project = await createProject(name.slice(0, 4), name, user.id, organisation.id);
         if (!project) {
             throw new Error(`failed to create demo project: ${name}`);
         }
diff --git a/packages/frontend/src/Index.tsx b/packages/frontend/src/Index.tsx
index 4a89a9f..b440a54 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/src/Index.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/Index.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function Index() {
         if (projectsRef.current) return;
         projectsRef.current = true;
 
-        fetch(`${serverURL}/projects/by-owner?ownerId=${user.id}`, { headers: getAuthHeaders() })
+        fetch(`${serverURL}/projects/by-creator?creatorId=${user.id}`, { headers: getAuthHeaders() })
             .then((res) => res.json())
             .then((data: ProjectResponse[]) => {
                 setProjects(data);
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ function Index() {
                     </Select>
                     {selectedProject && (
                         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                            Owner: <SmallUserDisplay user={selectedProject?.User} />
+                            Creator: <SmallUserDisplay user={selectedProject?.User} />
                         </div>
                     )}
                 </div>
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/index.ts b/packages/shared/src/index.ts
index 686755d..c8189af 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/index.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 // Drizzle tables
-export { User, Project, Issue } from "./schema";
+export { User, Project, Issue, Organisation, OrganisationMember } from "./schema";
 
 // Types
 export type {
     UserRecord,
     UserInsert,
+    OrganisationRecord,
+    OrganisationInsert,
+    OrganisationMemberRecord,
+    OrganisationMemberInsert,
     ProjectRecord,
     ProjectInsert,
     IssueRecord,
@@ -15,6 +19,10 @@ export type {
 export {
     UserSelectSchema,
     UserInsertSchema,
+    OrganisationSelectSchema,
+    OrganisationInsertSchema,
+    OrganisationMemberSelectSchema,
+    OrganisationMemberInsertSchema,
     ProjectSelectSchema,
     ProjectInsertSchema,
     IssueSelectSchema,
@@ -25,4 +33,4 @@ export {
 export type {
     IssueResponse,
     ProjectResponse,
-} from "./schema"
\ No newline at end of file
+} from "./schema";
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/schema.ts b/packages/shared/src/schema.ts
index 786d8ab..24e553d 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/schema.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/schema.ts
@@ -108,5 +108,5 @@ export type IssueResponse = {
 export type ProjectResponse = {
     Project: ProjectRecord;
     Organisation: OrganisationRecord;
-    Creator: UserRecord;
+    User: UserRecord;
 };