diff --git a/ckan/logic/action/get.py b/ckan/logic/action/get.py
index 9ff8a62b992..d7b92a29e9a 100644
--- a/ckan/logic/action/get.py
+++ b/ckan/logic/action/get.py
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ def _group_or_org_list(context, data_dict, is_org=False):
             data_dict, logic.schema.default_pagination_schema(), context)
         if errors:
             raise ValidationError(errors)
-    sort = data_dict.get('sort') or 'name'
+    sort = data_dict.get('sort') or 'title'
     q = data_dict.get('q')
 
     all_fields = asbool(data_dict.get('all_fields', None))
diff --git a/ckan/templates/organization/index.html b/ckan/templates/organization/index.html
index d4079f318cf..4214ce6b165 100644
--- a/ckan/templates/organization/index.html
+++ b/ckan/templates/organization/index.html
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 {% block primary_content_inner %}
   <h1 class="hide-heading">{% block page_heading %}{{ _('Organizations') }}{% endblock %}</h1>
   {% block organizations_search_form %}
-    {% snippet 'snippets/search_form.html', form_id='organization-search-form', type='organization', query=c.q, sorting_selected=c.sort_by_selected, count=c.page.item_count, placeholder=_('Search organizations...'), show_empty=request.params, no_bottom_border=true if c.page.items %}
+    {% snippet 'snippets/search_form.html', form_id='organization-search-form', type='organization', query=c.q, sorting_selected=c.sort_by_selected, count=c.page.item_count, placeholder=_('Search organizations...'), show_empty=request.params, no_bottom_border=true if c.page.items, sorting = [(_('Name Ascending'), 'title asc'), (_('Name Descending'), 'title desc')] %}
   {% endblock %}
   {% block organizations_list %}
     {% if c.page.items or request.params %}