diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 24e601e..eff3cf8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -70,12 +70,14 @@ The following functions are possible
 - Link an available other projects to each specific project
 - Override the project information
 - Override the component information
+- Add affiliated institutions to the created project/component and to the forked project
 
 The impossible ones:
 - Update attributes for available projects
 
 **\* Notice** about the order of creating a project/component:
 - Create project (includes `category`, `title`, `description`, `public`, `tags`)
+- Add affiliated institutions to the created project/component
 - Add license (as `node_license`)
 - Create components for the created project
 - Link to other projects (as `project_links`)
diff --git a/grdmcli/__main__.py b/grdmcli/__main__.py
index cb00a96..a047427 100644
--- a/grdmcli/__main__.py
+++ b/grdmcli/__main__.py
@@ -171,5 +171,5 @@ def main():
         cli_parser.parse_args(_args)
 
 
-if __name__ == '__main__':
+if __name__ == '__main__':  # pragma: no cover
     main()
diff --git a/grdmcli/constants.py b/grdmcli/constants.py
index e8a8b33..affc80b 100644
--- a/grdmcli/constants.py
+++ b/grdmcli/constants.py
@@ -21,10 +21,6 @@
 PAGE_SIZE_SERVER = 100
 MAX_THREADS_CALL_API = 10
 
-# Maximum data return from API
-# (update it if the max range of return data per_page of server is change)
-MAX_THREADS_CALL_API = 10
-
 MAX_PAGE_SIZE = 1000
 PAGE_SIZE_QUERY_PARAM = 'page[size]'
 ORDERING_QUERY_PARAM = 'sort'
diff --git a/grdmcli/grdm_client/__init__.py b/grdmcli/grdm_client/__init__.py
index 700ab53..f214dd2 100644
--- a/grdmcli/grdm_client/__init__.py
+++ b/grdmcli/grdm_client/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
 
     from .users import (
         _users_me,
+        _users_institutions,
     )
     # For projects functions
     from .licenses import (
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         _load_project,
         _fork_project,
         _create_project,
+        _prepare_institutions_relationship_data,
+        _add_node_institutions,
         _link_project_to_project,
         _add_project_pointers,
         _add_project_components,
diff --git a/grdmcli/grdm_client/common.py b/grdmcli/grdm_client/common.py
index c50a530..10d00d9 100644
--- a/grdmcli/grdm_client/common.py
+++ b/grdmcli/grdm_client/common.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
 
         self.user = None
         self.is_authenticated = False
+        self.affiliated_institutions = []
 
         # Call initial methods before parse_args
         self._load_option_from_config_file()
@@ -116,9 +117,21 @@ def _request(self, method, url, params=None, data=None, headers=None):
                 error_msg = error.detail
                 if hasattr(error, 'source'):
                     error_msg = f'{error_msg}. The pointer is {error.source.pointer}'
-            except Exception:
+            except Exception as ex:
                 error_msg = f'{_response.status_code} {_response.reason}'
 
+                # Keep parse context for troubleshooting unexpected API responses.
+                response_content = _response.content
+                if isinstance(response_content, (bytes, bytearray)):
+                    response_content = response_content.decode('utf-8', errors='replace')
+                else:
+                    response_content = str(response_content)
+                error_msg = (
+                    f'{error_msg}.'
+                    f'\n  - Failed to parse API error response: {type(ex).__name__}: {ex}'
+                    f'\n  - Response content: {response_content}'
+                )
+
             return None, error_msg
 
         return _response, None
diff --git a/grdmcli/grdm_client/projects.py b/grdmcli/grdm_client/projects.py
index 2fa9862..405180c 100644
--- a/grdmcli/grdm_client/projects.py
+++ b/grdmcli/grdm_client/projects.py
@@ -3,14 +3,12 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import sys
+from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 from pprint import pprint  # noqa
 from types import SimpleNamespace
-from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
-import re
-
-from .. import constants as const, utils
 
 from grdmcli.status import HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN, HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND
+from .. import constants as const, utils
 
 __all__ = [
     '_get_template_schema_projects',
@@ -20,6 +18,8 @@
     '_fork_project',
     '_create_project',
     '_update_project',
+    '_prepare_institutions_relationship_data',
+    '_add_node_institutions',
     '_link_project_to_project',
     '_overwrite_node_link',
     '_update_project_component',
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+MSG_E_INSTITUTIONS_INVALID = (
+    'Invalid affiliated institutions input. Expected a list of items with "id" and type "institutions".'
+)
+
 
 def _get_template_schema_projects(self):
     return os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(here), const.TEMPLATE_SCHEMA_PROJECTS))
@@ -329,6 +333,70 @@ def _update_project(self, node_object, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
     return project, json.loads(_content)['data']
 
 
+def _prepare_institutions_relationship_data(self, institutions, verbose=True):
+    """Build payload for adding institution relationships to a node.
+
+    :param institutions: list of institution dicts with keys id and type
+    :param verbose: boolean
+    :return: dict payload
+    """
+    if not institutions:
+        return {'data': []}
+
+    if not isinstance(institutions, list):
+        logger.warning(MSG_E_INSTITUTIONS_INVALID)
+        sys.exit(MSG_E_INSTITUTIONS_INVALID)
+
+    unique_ids = []
+    for idx, institution in enumerate(institutions):
+        if not isinstance(institution, dict):
+            _error_message = f'{MSG_E_INSTITUTIONS_INVALID} Invalid item at index {idx}.'
+            logger.warning(_error_message)
+            sys.exit(_error_message)
+
+        institution_id = institution.get('id')
+        institution_type = institution.get('type')
+
+        if not institution_id or institution_type != 'institutions':
+            _error_message = f'{MSG_E_INSTITUTIONS_INVALID} Invalid item at index {idx}.'
+            logger.warning(_error_message)
+            sys.exit(_error_message)
+
+        if institution_id not in unique_ids:
+            unique_ids.append(institution_id)
+
+    data = {
+        'data': [
+            {
+                'type': 'institutions',
+                'id': institution_id
+            }
+            for institution_id in unique_ids
+        ]
+    }
+
+    if verbose and data['data']:
+        logger.debug(f'Prepared institutions relationship data: {data}')
+
+    return data
+
+
+def _add_node_institutions(
+        self, node_id, institutions, verbose=True,
+):
+    """Add affiliated institutions to a node."""
+    _data = self._prepare_institutions_relationship_data(institutions, verbose=verbose)
+    if len(_data.get('data', [])) == 0:
+        return True
+
+    _url = f'nodes/{node_id}/relationships/institutions/'
+    _response, _error_message = self._request('POST', _url, params={}, data=_data)
+    if _error_message:
+        logger.warning(f'Failed to add affiliated institutions to nodes/{node_id}/: {_error_message}')
+        sys.exit(_error_message)
+    return _response is not None
+
+
 def _link_project_to_project(self, node_id, pointer_id, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
     """Add a link to another project into this project by project's GUID.\n
 
@@ -408,12 +476,14 @@ def _add_project_pointers(self, project_links, project, verbose=True):
             continue
 
         # update output object
-        # can overwrite object by dictionary _project_links[_node_id_idx] = _
+        # can overwrite object by dictionary _project_links[_node_id_idx] = linked
         project_links[_node_id_idx] = linked['id']
     return project_links
 
 
-def _add_project_components(self, children, project, verbose=True):
+def _add_project_components(
+        self, children, project, verbose=True, affiliated_institutions=None,
+):
     """Add component to project from list of children in template file
 
     :param children: object of component from template file
@@ -434,12 +504,22 @@ def _add_project_components(self, children, project, verbose=True):
                 logger.error("Project could not created")
                 continue
             # update child node
-            component = self._update_project_component(_component_dict, verbose)
+            self._update_project_component(
+                _component_dict,
+                verbose,
+                affiliated_institutions=affiliated_institutions,
+            )
         # create new children if ID NOT EXIST in input
         else:
             logger.info(f'JSONPOINTER ./children/{_component_idx}/')
 
-            component, _ = self._projects_add_component(project.id, _component_dict, ignore_error=True, verbose=verbose)
+            component, _ = self._projects_add_component(
+                project.id,
+                _component_dict,
+                ignore_error=True,
+                verbose=verbose,
+                affiliated_institutions=affiliated_institutions,
+            )
 
             if component is None:
                 # has error, update output object
@@ -452,10 +532,17 @@ def _add_project_components(self, children, project, verbose=True):
             children[_component_idx]['type'] = component.type
 
         # handle create/update children of current child
-        self._overwrite_node_link_update_component(_component_dict, verbose)
+        self._overwrite_node_link_update_component(
+            _component_dict,
+            verbose,
+            affiliated_institutions=affiliated_institutions,
+        )
 
 
-def _projects_add_component(self, parent_id, node_object, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
+def _projects_add_component(
+        self, parent_id, node_object, ignore_error=True, verbose=True,
+        affiliated_institutions=None
+):
     """Add a component into project by project's GUID, component's attributes such as title and category.\n
     In scope of method, call component as 'project' and its child as 'component'.
 
@@ -502,6 +589,12 @@ def _projects_add_component(self, parent_id, node_object, ignore_error=True, ver
     if verbose:
         logger.debug(f'\'{project.id}\' - \'{project.attributes.title}\' [{project.type}][{project.attributes.category}]')
 
+    # Institution relation errors should stop CLI to prevent partial creation.
+    self._add_node_institutions(
+        project.id, affiliated_institutions,
+        verbose=verbose,
+    )
+
     # link a project to this node (parent_node_id = project.id)
     self._add_project_pointers(_project_links, project, verbose=verbose)
 
@@ -510,7 +603,11 @@ def _projects_add_component(self, parent_id, node_object, ignore_error=True, ver
         node_object['project_links'] = [_pointer for _pointer in _project_links if _pointer is not None]
 
     # add Components to this node (parent_node_id = project.id)
-    self._add_project_components(_children, project, verbose=verbose)
+    self._add_project_components(
+        _children, project,
+        verbose=verbose,
+        affiliated_institutions=affiliated_institutions,
+    )
 
     # Delete None from children
     if _children:
@@ -519,8 +616,11 @@ def _projects_add_component(self, parent_id, node_object, ignore_error=True, ver
     return project, json.loads(_content)['data']
 
 
-def _create_or_update_project(self, projects, project_idx, verbose=True):
-    """Create new project or fork project or load project
+def _create_or_update_project(
+        self, projects, project_idx, verbose=True,
+        affiliated_institutions=None
+):
+    """Create new project or fork project or update project
 
     :param projects: list of project from template
     :param project_idx: integer of project index base on it order in project list
@@ -551,6 +651,12 @@ def _create_or_update_project(self, projects, project_idx, verbose=True):
 
         # overwrite project
         self.projects_creation_output[project.id] = convert_namespace_to_dict(project)
+
+        # Institution relation errors should stop CLI to prevent partial creation.
+        self._add_node_institutions(
+            project.id, affiliated_institutions,
+            verbose=verbose,
+        )
     elif _id:
         logger.info(f'JSONPOINTER /projects/{project_idx}/id == {_id}')
         project, _ = self._load_project(_id, is_fake=const.IS_FAKE_LOAD_PROJECT, ignore_error=True, verbose=verbose)
@@ -590,6 +696,12 @@ def _create_or_update_project(self, projects, project_idx, verbose=True):
 
         # add to output
         self.projects_creation_output[project.id] = convert_namespace_to_dict(project)
+
+        # Institution relation errors should stop CLI to prevent partial creation.
+        self._add_node_institutions(
+            project.id, affiliated_institutions,
+            verbose=verbose
+        )
     return project
 
 
@@ -625,6 +737,10 @@ def projects_create(self):
         logger.info(f'Validate by the template of projects: {self.template_schema_projects}')
         utils.check_json_schema(self.template_schema_projects, _input_prj_dicts)
 
+        affiliated_institutions = self._users_institutions(
+            verbose=verbose,
+        )
+
         logger.info('Loop following the template of projects')
         _input_projects = _input_prj_dicts.get('projects', [])
         for _project_idx, _input_prj_dict in enumerate(_input_projects):
@@ -633,7 +749,12 @@ def projects_create(self):
             _input_prj_link_ids = _input_prj_dict.get('project_links', None)
 
             # create new or fork project or update project
-            project = self._create_or_update_project(_input_projects, _project_idx, verbose)
+            project = self._create_or_update_project(
+                _input_projects,
+                _project_idx,
+                verbose,
+                affiliated_institutions=affiliated_institutions,
+            )
             if project is None:
                 # update output object and ignore it
                 _input_projects[_project_idx] = None
@@ -660,7 +781,10 @@ def projects_create(self):
                 _filtered_input_children = _input_prj_dict['children']
 
                 # Create Components and lower level component
-                self._add_project_components(_filtered_input_children, project, verbose)
+                self._add_project_components(
+                    _filtered_input_children, project, verbose,
+                    affiliated_institutions=affiliated_institutions,
+                )
 
         # Delete None from projects
         _input_prj_dicts['projects'] = [_prj for _prj in _input_projects if _prj is not None]
@@ -1204,7 +1328,9 @@ def _overwrite_node_link(self, project, project_dict, verbose=True):
     self._add_project_pointers(_need_create_node_link_ids, project, verbose=verbose)
 
 
-def _update_project_component(self, child_project_dict, verbose=True):
+def _update_project_component(
+        self, child_project_dict, verbose=True, affiliated_institutions=None,
+):
     """Update component (project children)
 
     :param child_project_dict: children dictionary
@@ -1257,11 +1383,19 @@ def _update_project_component(self, child_project_dict, verbose=True):
         if len(_ip_children):
             child_project_dict['children'] = [_child for _child in _ip_children if _child is not None]
             _filtered_ip_children = child_project_dict['children']
-            self._add_project_components(_filtered_ip_children, _node, verbose)
+            self._add_project_components(
+                _filtered_ip_children,
+                _node,
+                verbose,
+                affiliated_institutions=affiliated_institutions,
+            )
         return _node
 
 
-def _overwrite_node_link_update_component(self, _input_prj_dicts, verbose=True):
+def _overwrite_node_link_update_component(
+        self, _input_prj_dicts, verbose=True,
+        affiliated_institutions=None,
+):
     """Update component node link and update current component with the update of _input_prj_dicts
 
     :param _input_prj_dicts: list children want to update
@@ -1276,7 +1410,10 @@ def _overwrite_node_link_update_component(self, _input_prj_dicts, verbose=True):
         _input_prj_links_id = _input_prj_dict.get('project_links', None)
 
         # create new or fork project or update project
-        project = self._create_or_update_project(_input_projects, _project_idx, verbose)
+        project = self._create_or_update_project(
+            _input_projects, _project_idx, verbose,
+            affiliated_institutions=affiliated_institutions,
+        )
         if project is None:
             # update output object and ignore it
             _input_projects[_project_idx] = None
@@ -1303,7 +1440,10 @@ def _overwrite_node_link_update_component(self, _input_prj_dicts, verbose=True):
             _filtered_ip_children = _input_prj_dict['children']
 
             # Create Components and lower level component
-            self._add_project_components(_filtered_ip_children, project, verbose)
+            self._add_project_components(
+                _filtered_ip_children, project, verbose,
+                affiliated_institutions=affiliated_institutions,
+            )
 
 
 def convert_namespace_to_dict(namespace):
diff --git a/grdmcli/grdm_client/users.py b/grdmcli/grdm_client/users.py
index 6e3d0c1..4e8a3d4 100644
--- a/grdmcli/grdm_client/users.py
+++ b/grdmcli/grdm_client/users.py
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@
 
 __all__ = [
     '_users_me',
+    '_users_institutions',
 ]
 MSG_E001 = 'Missing currently logged-in user'
+MSG_E002 = 'Invalid institutions response format. Expected "data" as a list of objects with "id" and "type".'
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -44,3 +46,40 @@ def _users_me(self, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
     logger.info(f'You are logged in as \'{self.user.id}\'')
     if verbose:
         logger.debug(f'\'{self.user.id}\' - \'{self.user.attributes.full_name}\'')
+
+
+def _users_institutions(self, verbose=True):
+    """Get institution relationships of the currently logged-in user.
+
+    :param verbose: boolean
+    :return: list of institutions
+    """
+    if not self.user:
+        logger.warning(MSG_E001)
+        sys.exit(MSG_E001)
+
+    _url = f'users/{self.user.id}/relationships/institutions/'
+    _response, _error_message = self._request('GET', _url, params={}, data={})
+    if _error_message:
+        logger.warning(_error_message)
+        sys.exit(_error_message)
+
+    _content = _response.content
+    response_json = json.loads(_content)
+    institutions = response_json.get('data')
+    if not isinstance(institutions, list):
+        logger.warning(MSG_E002)
+        sys.exit(MSG_E002)
+
+    for idx, institution in enumerate(institutions):
+        if not isinstance(institution, dict) or not institution.get('id') or not institution.get('type'):
+            _error_message = f'{MSG_E002} Invalid item at index {idx}.'
+            logger.warning(_error_message)
+            sys.exit(_error_message)
+
+    self.affiliated_institutions = institutions
+
+    if verbose and self.affiliated_institutions:
+        logger.debug(f'Found affiliated institutions. [{len(self.affiliated_institutions)}]')
+
+    return self.affiliated_institutions
diff --git a/tests/factories.py b/tests/factories.py
index cd9138f..fe51129 100644
--- a/tests/factories.py
+++ b/tests/factories.py
@@ -172,19 +172,16 @@ def _check_config(self, verbose=True):
     def _users_me(self, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
         pass
 
-    def _prepare_output_file(self):
-        pass
-    
-    def parse_api_response(self, method, url, params=None):
+    def _users_institutions(self, verbose=True):
         pass
-    
-    def get_all_data_from_api(self, url, params=None):
+
+    def _prepare_output_file(self):
         pass
 
     def parse_api_response(self, method, url, params=None, ignore_error=False, is_target_node=False):
         pass
 
-    def get_all_data_from_api(self, url, params={}):
+    def get_all_data_from_api(self, url, params=None, ignore_error=False):
         pass
 
 
@@ -205,7 +202,6 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.created_project_contributors = []
         self.template_schema_contributors = 'path-to-schema'
 
-
     # For projects functions
 
     def _fake_project_content_data(self, pk, verbose=True):
@@ -229,19 +225,25 @@ def _add_project_pointers(self, project_links, project, verbose=True):
     def _create_project(self, node_object, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
         pass
 
+    def _prepare_institutions_relationship_data(self, institutions, verbose=True):
+        return {'data': []}
+
+    def _add_node_institutions(self, node_id, institutions, verbose=True):
+        return True
+
     def _load_project(self, pk, is_fake=True, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
         pass
 
     def _fork_project(self, node_object, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
         pass
 
-    def _projects_add_component(self, parent_id, node_object, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
+    def _projects_add_component(self, parent_id, node_object, ignore_error=True, verbose=True, affiliated_institutions=None):
         pass
 
-    def _add_project_components(self, children, project, verbose=True):
+    def _add_project_components(self, children, project, verbose=True, affiliated_institutions=None):
         pass
 
-    def _create_or_update_project(self, projects, project_idx):
+    def _create_or_update_project(self, projects, project_idx, verbose=True, affiliated_institutions=None):
         pass
 
     def _update_project(self, node_object, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
@@ -250,10 +252,10 @@ def _update_project(self, node_object, ignore_error=True, verbose=True):
     def _overwrite_node_link(self, project, project_dict, verbose=True):
         pass
 
-    def _update_project_component(self, project_dict, verbose=True):
+    def _update_project_component(self, project_dict, verbose=True, affiliated_institutions=None):
         pass
 
-    def _overwrite_node_link_update_component(self, _ip_projects_dict, verbose=True):
+    def _overwrite_node_link_update_component(self, _ip_projects_dict, verbose=True, affiliated_institutions=None):
         pass
 
     def _remapping_node(self, tree_root):
diff --git a/tests/test_grdm_client/test_common.py b/tests/test_grdm_client/test_common.py
index 46b166d..3c17d95 100644
--- a/tests/test_grdm_client/test_common.py
+++ b/tests/test_grdm_client/test_common.py
@@ -91,7 +91,25 @@ def test_request__error_exception(self, mock_get, common_cli):
         mock_get.return_value = resp
         actual1, actual2 = CommonCLI._request(common_cli, 'GET', self.url)
         assert actual1 is None
-        assert actual2 == f'{resp.status_code} {resp.reason}'
+        assert actual2.startswith(f'{resp.status_code} {resp.reason}.')
+        assert 'Failed to parse API error response' in actual2
+        assert 'Response content:' in actual2
+
+    @mock.patch('requests.request')
+    def test_request__error_exception_contains_parse_context(self, mock_get, common_cli):
+        resp = requests.Response()
+        resp.reason = 'bad request'
+        resp.status_code = 400
+        resp._content = b'{"errors": invalid-json}'
+        mock_get.return_value = resp
+
+        actual1, actual2 = CommonCLI._request(common_cli, 'GET', self.url)
+
+        assert actual1 is None
+        assert actual2.startswith('400 bad request.')
+        assert 'Failed to parse API error response' in actual2
+        assert 'JSONDecodeError' in actual2
+        assert 'Response content: {"errors": invalid-json}' in actual2
 
     @mock.patch('requests.request')
     def test_request__error_source(self, mock_get, common_cli):
diff --git a/tests/test_grdm_client/test_projects.py b/tests/test_grdm_client/test_projects.py
index 58dce20..41f5a6c 100644
--- a/tests/test_grdm_client/test_projects.py
+++ b/tests/test_grdm_client/test_projects.py
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
     _fork_project,
     _create_project,
     _link_project_to_project,
+    _prepare_institutions_relationship_data,
+    _add_node_institutions,
     _add_project_pointers,
     _add_project_components,
     _projects_add_component,
@@ -31,11 +33,8 @@
     projects_get_list,
     projects_get,
     get_all_linked_node,
-    convert_contributor_with_template_get_cli,
     call_api_user_nodes,
-    convert_namespace_to_dict
 )
-from pathvalidate import ValidationError
 from tests.factories import GRDMClientFactory
 from tests.utils import *
 
@@ -1627,7 +1626,7 @@ def test_create_or_update_project__case_create_project(caplog, grdm_client):
 
 
 def test_create_or_update_project__case_fork_project_none(caplog, grdm_client):
-    _projects = (projects.get('projects', [])).copy()
+    _projects = copy.deepcopy(projects.get('projects', []))
     _fork_id = _projects[3].get('fork_id')
     with mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_fork_project', return_value=(None, None)):
         actual = _create_or_update_project(grdm_client, _projects, 3)
@@ -1638,7 +1637,7 @@ def test_create_or_update_project__case_fork_project_none(caplog, grdm_client):
 
 
 def test_create_or_update_project__case_fork_project(caplog, grdm_client):
-    _projects = projects.get('projects', [])
+    _projects = copy.deepcopy(projects.get('projects', []))
     _fork_id = _projects[3].get('fork_id')
     with mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_fork_project', return_value=(fork_project_obj.data, None)):
         actual = _create_or_update_project(grdm_client, _projects, 3)
@@ -1650,6 +1649,247 @@ def test_create_or_update_project__case_fork_project(caplog, grdm_client):
     assert _projects[3]['type'] == fork_project_obj.data.type
 
 
+def test_create_or_update_project__fork_calls_add_node_institutions(grdm_client):
+    _projects = copy.deepcopy(projects.get('projects', []))
+    institutions = [SimpleNamespace(id='inst01')]
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_fork_project', return_value=(fork_project_obj.data, None)),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_node_institutions') as mocked_add_institutions,
+    ):
+        _create_or_update_project(
+            grdm_client, _projects, 3,
+            affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+        )
+
+    mocked_add_institutions.assert_called_once_with(
+        fork_project_obj.data.id, institutions,
+        verbose=True,
+    )
+
+
+def test_create_or_update_project__update_does_not_add_node_institutions(grdm_client):
+    test_projects = [{'id': 'node01'}]
+    institutions = [SimpleNamespace(id='inst01')]
+    project = SimpleNamespace(id='node01', type='nodes')
+
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_load_project', return_value=(project, None)),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_update_project', return_value=(project, None)),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_node_institutions') as mocked_add_institutions,
+    ):
+        _create_or_update_project(
+            grdm_client, test_projects, 0,
+            affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+        )
+
+    mocked_add_institutions.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_prepare_institutions_relationship_data__success(grdm_client):
+    institutions = [
+        {'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'},
+        {'id': 'inst02', 'type': 'institutions'},
+        {'id': 'inst03', 'type': 'institutions'},
+        {'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'},
+    ]
+    actual = _prepare_institutions_relationship_data(grdm_client, institutions, verbose=False)
+    assert actual == {
+        'data': [
+            {'type': 'institutions', 'id': 'inst01'},
+            {'type': 'institutions', 'id': 'inst02'},
+            {'type': 'institutions', 'id': 'inst03'},
+        ]
+    }
+
+
+def test_prepare_institutions_relationship_data__invalid_top_level_type_sys_exit(grdm_client, caplog):
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+        _prepare_institutions_relationship_data(grdm_client, 'inst01', verbose=False)
+
+    assert ex_info.value.code == 'Invalid affiliated institutions input. Expected a list of items with "id" and type "institutions".'
+    assert caplog.records[0].levelname == warning_level_log
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('institutions', [
+    [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}, 'inst02'],
+    [{'type': 'institutions'}],
+    [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'organization'}],
+])
+def test_prepare_institutions_relationship_data__invalid_item_sys_exit(institutions, grdm_client, caplog):
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+        _prepare_institutions_relationship_data(grdm_client, institutions, verbose=False)
+
+    assert ex_info.value.code.startswith(
+        'Invalid affiliated institutions input. Expected a list of items with "id" and type "institutions".'
+    )
+    assert caplog.records[0].levelname == warning_level_log
+
+
+def test_prepare_institutions_relationship_data__empty(grdm_client):
+    actual = _prepare_institutions_relationship_data(grdm_client, [], verbose=True)
+    assert actual == {'data': []}
+
+
+def test_prepare_institutions_relationship_data__verbose_log(grdm_client, caplog):
+    institutions = [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}]
+    actual = _prepare_institutions_relationship_data(grdm_client, institutions, verbose=True)
+    assert actual == {'data': [{'type': 'institutions', 'id': 'inst01'}]}
+    assert caplog.records[0].levelname == debug_level_log
+    assert caplog.records[0].message == "Prepared institutions relationship data: {'data': [{'type': 'institutions', 'id': 'inst01'}]}"
+
+
+def test_add_node_institutions__request_error_sys_exit(grdm_client, caplog):
+    with mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request', return_value=(None, 'error')), \
+            mock.patch.object(
+                grdm_client, '_prepare_institutions_relationship_data',
+                return_value={'data': [{'type': 'institutions', 'id': 'inst01'}]},
+            ):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+            _add_node_institutions(
+                grdm_client, 'node01',
+                [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}],
+            )
+    assert ex_info.value.code == 'error'
+    assert caplog.records[0].levelname == warning_level_log
+    assert caplog.records[0].message == 'Failed to add affiliated institutions to nodes/node01/: error'
+
+
+def test_add_node_institutions__empty_payload_returns_true(grdm_client):
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_prepare_institutions_relationship_data', return_value={'data': []}),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request') as mocked_request,
+    ):
+        actual = _add_node_institutions(grdm_client, 'node01', [])
+    assert actual is True
+    mocked_request.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_add_node_institutions__request_returns_none_without_error_returns_false(grdm_client):
+    with mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request', return_value=(None, None)), \
+            mock.patch.object(
+                grdm_client, '_prepare_institutions_relationship_data',
+                return_value={'data': [{'type': 'institutions', 'id': 'inst01'}]},
+            ):
+        actual = _add_node_institutions(
+            grdm_client, 'node01',
+            [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}],
+        )
+    assert actual is False
+
+
+def test_create_or_update_project__create_add_node_institutions_error_sys_exit(grdm_client):
+    _projects = copy.deepcopy(projects.get('projects', []))
+    _projects[0].pop('id', None)
+    _projects[0].pop('fork_id', None)
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_create_project', return_value=(new_project_obj.data, None)),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_node_institutions', side_effect=SystemExit('error')),
+    ):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+            _create_or_update_project(
+                grdm_client, _projects, 0,
+                affiliated_institutions=[{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}],
+            )
+    assert ex_info.value.code == 'error'
+
+
+def test_create_or_update_project__fork_add_node_institutions_error_sys_exit(grdm_client):
+    _projects = copy.deepcopy(projects.get('projects', []))
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_fork_project', return_value=(fork_project_obj.data, None)),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_node_institutions', side_effect=SystemExit('error')),
+    ):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+            _create_or_update_project(
+                grdm_client, _projects, 3,
+                affiliated_institutions=[{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}],
+            )
+    assert ex_info.value.code == 'error'
+
+
+def test_add_node_institutions__request_success_returns_true(grdm_client):
+    with mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request', return_value=(requests.Response(), None)), \
+            mock.patch.object(
+                grdm_client, '_prepare_institutions_relationship_data',
+                return_value={'data': [{'type': 'institutions', 'id': 'inst01'}]},
+            ):
+        actual = _add_node_institutions(
+            grdm_client, 'node01',
+            [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}],
+        )
+    assert actual is True
+
+
+def test_create_or_update_project__create_calls_add_node_institutions(grdm_client):
+    _projects = copy.deepcopy(projects.get('projects', []))
+    _projects[0].pop('id', None)
+    _projects[0].pop('fork_id', None)
+    institutions = [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}]
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_create_project', return_value=(new_project_obj.data, None)),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_node_institutions') as mocked_add_institutions
+    ):
+        _create_or_update_project(
+            grdm_client, _projects, 0,
+            affiliated_institutions=institutions
+        )
+    mocked_add_institutions.assert_called_once_with(
+        new_project_obj.data.id, institutions,
+        verbose=True
+    )
+
+
+def test_projects_add_component__calls_add_node_institutions(grdm_client):
+    resp = requests.Response()
+    resp._content = new_project_str
+    _project = projects['projects'][2]
+    institutions = [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}]
+
+    with (
+        mock.patch('tests.factories.GRDMClientFactory._prepare_project_data', return_value=True),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request', return_value=(resp, None)),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_node_institutions') as mocked_add_institutions
+    ):
+        _projects_add_component(
+            grdm_client,
+            'nid11',
+            _project,
+            verbose=False,
+            affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+        )
+
+    mocked_add_institutions.assert_called_once_with(
+        'ezcuj', institutions,
+        verbose=False
+    )
+
+
+def test_projects_add_component__add_node_institutions_error_sys_exit_and_stop_downstream(grdm_client):
+    resp = requests.Response()
+    resp._content = new_project_str
+    _project = projects['projects'][2]
+
+    with (
+        mock.patch('tests.factories.GRDMClientFactory._prepare_project_data', return_value=True),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request', return_value=(resp, None)),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_node_institutions', side_effect=SystemExit('error')),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_project_pointers') as mocked_add_pointers,
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_project_components') as mocked_add_components,
+    ):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+            _projects_add_component(
+                grdm_client,
+                'nid11',
+                _project,
+                verbose=False,
+                affiliated_institutions=[{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}],
+            )
+
+    assert ex_info.value.code == 'error'
+    mocked_add_pointers.assert_not_called()
+    mocked_add_components.assert_not_called()
+
+
 def test_add_project_components__children_exist_id_ignored(grdm_client, caplog):
     _children = projects['projects'][0]['children']
     children = [_children[1]]
@@ -1660,6 +1900,29 @@ def test_add_project_components__children_exist_id_ignored(grdm_client, caplog):
     assert caplog.records[0].message == f'Project could not created'
 
 
+def test_add_project_components__existing_child_passes_affiliated_institutions(grdm_client):
+    children = [{'id': 'child01'}]
+    institutions = [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}]
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, 'get_all_data_from_api', return_value=[SimpleNamespace(id='child01')]),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_update_project_component', return_value=SimpleNamespace(id='child01')) as mocked_update,
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_overwrite_node_link_update_component'),
+    ):
+        _add_project_components(
+            grdm_client,
+            children,
+            SimpleNamespace(id='parent01'),
+            verbose=False,
+            affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+        )
+
+    mocked_update.assert_called_once_with(
+        children[0],
+        False,
+        affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+    )
+
+
 def test_add_project_components__add_components_is_none(grdm_client, caplog):
     _children = (projects['projects'][2]['children']).copy()
     children = [_children[0]]
@@ -1687,6 +1950,43 @@ def test_add_project_components__add_components_not_have_child_id(grdm_client, c
     assert children[0]['type'] == component.type
 
 
+def test_add_project_components__new_child_passes_affiliated_institutions(grdm_client):
+    children = [{
+        'category': 'analysis',
+        'title': 'new child',
+        'project_links': ['node01'],
+    }]
+    project = SimpleNamespace(id='parent01')
+    component = SimpleNamespace(id='child01', type='nodes')
+    institutions = [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}]
+
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, 'get_all_data_from_api', return_value=[]),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_projects_add_component', return_value=(component, None)) as mocked_add_component,
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_overwrite_node_link_update_component') as mocked_overwrite,
+    ):
+        _add_project_components(
+            grdm_client,
+            children,
+            project,
+            verbose=False,
+            affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+        )
+
+    mocked_add_component.assert_called_once_with(
+        project.id,
+        children[0],
+        ignore_error=True,
+        verbose=False,
+        affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+    )
+    mocked_overwrite.assert_called_once_with(
+        children[0],
+        False,
+        affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+    )
+
+
 def test_add_project_components__add_components_success(grdm_client, caplog):
     _project = link_project_obj.data
     _children = projects['projects'][4]['children']
@@ -1833,6 +2133,55 @@ def test_projects_create__verbose_true(mocker, grdm_client, caplog):
         assert ex_info.value.args[0] == 0
 
 
+@mock.patch('sys.exit')
+def test_projects_create__passes_affiliated_institutions_to_downstream(mocker, grdm_client):
+    institutions = [{'id': 'inst01', 'type': 'institutions'}]
+    input_projects = {
+        'projects': [
+            {
+                'title': 'project01',
+                'category': 'project',
+                'children': [
+                    {
+                        'title': 'component01',
+                        'category': 'analysis',
+                    }
+                ],
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+    created_project = SimpleNamespace(id='node01')
+
+    mocker.patch('grdmcli.utils.check_json_schema')
+    mocker.patch('os.path.exists', side_effect=[True, True])
+    with (
+        mock.patch('grdmcli.utils.read_json_file', return_value=input_projects),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_users_institutions', return_value=institutions) as mocked_users_institutions,
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_create_or_update_project', return_value=created_project) as mocked_create_or_update,
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_project_components') as mocked_add_components,
+    ):
+        projects_create(grdm_client)
+
+    mocked_users_institutions.assert_called_once_with(verbose=False)
+    assert mocked_create_or_update.call_args.kwargs.get('affiliated_institutions') == institutions
+    assert mocked_add_components.call_args.kwargs.get('affiliated_institutions') == institutions
+
+
+def test_projects_create__users_institutions_error_sys_exit_and_stop_downstream(grdm_client):
+    with (
+        mock.patch('grdmcli.utils.check_json_schema'),
+        mock.patch('os.path.exists', side_effect=[True, True]),
+        mock.patch('grdmcli.utils.read_json_file', return_value={'projects': [{'title': 'project01', 'category': 'project'}]}),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_users_institutions', side_effect=SystemExit('error')),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_create_or_update_project') as mocked_create_or_update,
+    ):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+            projects_create(grdm_client)
+
+    assert ex_info.value.code == 'error'
+    mocked_create_or_update.assert_not_called()
+
+
 @mock.patch('sys.exit')
 @mock.patch('grdmcli.utils.write_json_file')
 def test_projects_create__case_create_or_update_project_none(mocker, grdm_client, caplog):
@@ -2013,6 +2362,7 @@ def mock_get_cli__request(url, params = {}):
         data = requests.Response()
         data._content = json.dumps(contributors)
         return json.loads(data.content, object_hook=lambda d: SimpleNamespace(**d)).data
+    return None
 
 
 # Get cli parse_api_response
@@ -2548,6 +2898,53 @@ def test_update_project_component__success(grdm_client):
         _update_project_component(grdm_client, has_child_link_project)
 
 
+def test_update_project_component__children_pass_affiliated_institutions(grdm_client):
+    node_str = """{
+        "data": {
+            "id": "qsqf2",
+            "relationships": {
+                "id": "ezcuj",
+                "parent": {
+                    "data": {
+                        "id": "f221h"
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }"""
+    resp = requests.Response()
+    resp._content = node_str
+    child_project_dict = {
+        'id': 'child01',
+        'children': [
+            {
+                'category': 'analysis',
+                'title': 'new child',
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+    institutions = [SimpleNamespace(id='inst01')]
+
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request', side_effect=[(None, None), (resp, None)]),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_prepare_project_data'),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_project_components') as mocked_add_components,
+    ):
+        _update_project_component(
+            grdm_client,
+            child_project_dict,
+            verbose=False,
+            affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+        )
+
+    mocked_add_components.assert_called_once_with(
+        child_project_dict['children'],
+        mock.ANY,
+        False,
+        affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+    )
+
+
 def test_overwrite_node_link_update_component__successful(grdm_client, caplog):
     override_prjs = copy.deepcopy(prj_has_children_prj_link)
     override_prjs['projects'][0]['id'] = '123d'
@@ -2587,6 +2984,36 @@ def test_overwrite_node_link_update_component__project_not_none_has_id(grdm_clie
         _overwrite_node_link_update_component(grdm_client, override_prjs, True)
 
 
+def test_overwrite_node_link_update_component__passes_affiliated_institutions(grdm_client):
+    override_prjs = copy.deepcopy(prj_has_children_prj_link)
+    override_prjs['projects'][0]['id'] = '123d'
+    institutions = [SimpleNamespace(id='inst01')]
+    project = SimpleNamespace(id='123d')
+
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_create_or_update_project', return_value=project) as mocked_create_or_update,
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_overwrite_node_link'),
+        mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_add_project_components') as mocked_add_components,
+    ):
+        _overwrite_node_link_update_component(
+            grdm_client,
+            override_prjs,
+            False,
+            affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+        )
+
+    assert mocked_create_or_update.call_count == len(override_prjs['projects'])
+    for _call in mocked_create_or_update.call_args_list:
+        assert _call.kwargs.get('affiliated_institutions') == institutions
+
+    mocked_add_components.assert_called_once_with(
+        override_prjs['projects'][0]['children'],
+        project,
+        False,
+        affiliated_institutions=institutions,
+    )
+
+
 def test_remapping_node(grdm_client):
     pr1 = {
         "id": "id1",
@@ -2655,5 +3082,3 @@ def test_convert_node_to_create_schema__has_license(grdm_client):
     grdm_client.licenses.append(json.loads(json.dumps(license), object_hook=lambda d: SimpleNamespace(**d)))
     with mock.patch.object(grdm_client, 'get_all_data_from_api', return_value=[_projects_obj]):
         _convert_node_to_create_schema(grdm_client, node_dict_has_license)
-
-
diff --git a/tests/test_grdm_client/test_user.py b/tests/test_grdm_client/test_user.py
index e911ce4..cea9268 100644
--- a/tests/test_grdm_client/test_user.py
+++ b/tests/test_grdm_client/test_user.py
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 import requests
 
 from grdmcli.grdm_client.users import (
-    _users_me
+    _users_me,
+    _users_institutions,
 )
 from tests.factories import GRDMClientFactory
 from tests.utils import *
@@ -168,3 +169,65 @@ def test_users_me__send_request_success_and_verbose_true(caplog, grdm_client):
         assert caplog.records[1].message == f'You are logged in as \'{grdm_client.user.id}\''
         assert caplog.records[2].levelname == debug_level_log
         assert caplog.records[2].message == f'\'{grdm_client.user.id}\' - \'{grdm_client.user.attributes.full_name}\''
+
+
+def test_users_institutions__missing_user_sys_exit(
+        caplog, grdm_client):
+    grdm_client.user = None
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+        _users_institutions(grdm_client)
+    assert ex_info.value.code == 'Missing currently logged-in user'
+    assert caplog.records[0].levelname == warning_level_log
+    assert caplog.records[0].message == 'Missing currently logged-in user'
+
+
+def test_users_institutions__request_error_sys_exit(
+        caplog, grdm_client):
+    _error_message = 'error'
+    with mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request', return_value=(None, _error_message)):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+            _users_institutions(grdm_client)
+    assert ex_info.value.code == _error_message
+    assert caplog.records[0].levelname == warning_level_log
+    assert caplog.records[0].message == _error_message
+
+
+def test_users_institutions__request_success(caplog, grdm_client):
+    resp = requests.Response()
+    resp._content = _users_me_institutions_str
+    with mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request', return_value=(resp, None)):
+        actual = _users_institutions(grdm_client, verbose=True)
+
+    assert len(actual) == 1
+    assert actual[0]['id'] == 'csic'
+    assert actual[0]['type'] == 'institutions'
+    assert grdm_client.affiliated_institutions == actual
+    assert caplog.records[0].levelname == debug_level_log
+    assert caplog.records[0].message == 'Found affiliated institutions. [1]'
+
+
+def test_users_institutions__invalid_response_data_not_list_sys_exit(caplog, grdm_client):
+    resp = requests.Response()
+    resp._content = '{"data": {"id": "csic", "type": "institutions"}}'.encode('utf-8')
+    with mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request', return_value=(resp, None)):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+            _users_institutions(grdm_client)
+
+    assert ex_info.value.code == 'Invalid institutions response format. Expected "data" as a list of objects with "id" and "type".'
+    assert caplog.records[0].levelname == warning_level_log
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('data_payload', [
+    '{"data": [{"id": "csic"}]}',
+    '{"data": [{"type": "institutions"}]}',
+    '{"data": ["csic"]}',
+])
+def test_users_institutions__invalid_response_item_sys_exit(data_payload, caplog, grdm_client):
+    resp = requests.Response()
+    resp._content = data_payload.encode('utf-8')
+    with mock.patch.object(grdm_client, '_request', return_value=(resp, None)):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex_info:
+            _users_institutions(grdm_client)
+
+    assert ex_info.value.code.startswith('Invalid institutions response format. Expected "data" as a list of objects with "id" and "type".')
+    assert caplog.records[0].levelname == warning_level_log