The Sloan Digital Sky Survey is conducted under the auspices of the Astrophysical Research Consortium, a consortium of academic institutions organized in 1984 to build and operate astronomical facilities and equipment. Current ARC members are the University of Chicago, the Institute for Advanced Study, Johns Hopkins University, New Mexico State University, Princeton University, the University of Washington, and Washington State University. The ARC 3.5-meter telescope, ARC's original project, was dedicated in May 1994.

ARC's organization allows members to choose whether or not to participate in financial and scientific aspects of individual projects. Nonmember institutions can participate in ARC projects through memoranda of understanding. Additional members of ARC or of particular projects may be added from time to time, as mutually agreed by the current partners and the new institutions.