Questions, answered plainly.
What is Sociogene?
Sociogene is a free self-discovery assessment for associations. In about two minutes it reveals your organization's shape, the way it decides, changes, serves, and runs, and shows where you sit among your peers. It describes who you are, not how good you are.
Is it really free, and what is the catch?
It is genuinely free, and there is no catch. You can take it and see your full result without paying and without an account. We built it because understanding the shape of associations is worthwhile, and because we make other tools for this world. There is no upsell hiding in your result.
Is this scientific, or just a personality quiz?
It is grounded in established organizational research, the same body of work that maps culture along dimensions like how power is held and how organizations face change. We turned that into four clear dimensions and a set of recognizable archetypes. It is meant as insight and a starting point for reflection, not a clinical diagnosis or a verdict.
Is there a best or right shape?
No. There are no winners, no rankings, and no grades. Every shape has real strengths and real blind spots, and the point is to understand your patterns, not to score you.
How long does it take?
About two minutes. Twenty short questions, each a simple choice between two ways an organization can lean.
Do I have to give my email?
No. You can see your archetype, your signature, and your place on the field without giving anything personal. You only share an email if you want us to send your result, unlock a fuller report, or save your results so you can return to them. We ask for a work email, and you confirm it with a quick click.
What do you do with my data, and will I get spam?
If you take it anonymously, we keep only your de-identified scores, which can never be traced back to you, to show the field. We store your email only if you choose to share it, we never sell your data, and we never publish your organization's result. No spam. The full detail is on our Privacy page.
What are the nine shapes?
They are nine archetypes of how associations operate, from The Citadel to The Frontier to The League. Most organizations are a blend, with one shape leading. You can read about all nine on The nine shapes page.
Should my whole team or board take it?
It can be revealing. People often see the same organization a little differently, and comparing those views is a useful conversation in itself. Your result reflects how the person answering sees the organization's shape.
Can we retake it and see how we have changed?
Yes. If you save your results, you can take it again later and watch how your shape shifts over time, which is one of the more interesting things an organization can learn about itself.
What if our result does not feel right?
Treat it as a mirror, not a measurement. Most associations are a blend, so if the lead shape feels off, look at the ones nearby. It is meant to start a conversation, not end one, and you can always take it again.
Who is behind Sociogene?
Sociogene comes from the team behind New Empact Work, a platform that helps nonprofit associations run their innovation, awards, grants, and scholarship programs. Working alongside associations is exactly what made us curious about their shapes. When you sit with enough of them, you start to notice how differently each one decides, changes, and serves. We built Sociogene as a free, standalone way for any association to understand itself, whether or not it ever uses New Empact Work. Your result is yours, with no strings attached.