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Open Society Institute (Open Society Foundations)

Annual Giving
$1.2B
Grant Range
$1K - $40.0M

Open Society Institute (Open Society Foundations)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1.2 billion (2024 expenditures)
  • Success Rate: Highly competitive (specific rate not disclosed)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $40,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: International (with presence across all continents)

Contact Details

Headquarters: 224 W 57th Street New York, NY 10019-3212

Website: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org

Note: Contact information varies by program. Prospective applicants should reach out to the relevant program directly through the OSF website.

Overview

The Open Society Institute, operating as the Open Society Foundations (OSF), was established in 1993 by philanthropist George Soros, who has contributed over $32 billion to the organization since launching his philanthropic work in 1979. With assets exceeding $23 billion and total expenditures surpassing $24.2 billion since inception, OSF is one of the world's largest foundations and the largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, equity, and human rights. Under the leadership of President Binaifer Nowrojee (appointed June 2024) and Board Chair Alex Soros, OSF has undertaken a significant strategic transformation, shifting from standing programs to time-bound goals organized around six regional strategies and one global strategy. This new model emphasizes "strategic opportunism" with both long-term "patient capital" approaches and tactical short-term interventions. In 2023 alone, OSF awarded over 2,350 grants to organizations and individuals worldwide.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

OSF's global work is organized around four interconnected areas of focus:

  • Rights and Dignity: Supporting human rights movements and institutions, addressing abuses of power, and securing equal rights for groups facing discrimination
  • Democratic Practice: Advancing democratic participation at all levels and supporting civil society organizations worldwide
  • Equity in Governance: Promoting judicial reform, access to justice, and rule of law based in human rights
  • Future Worlds: Supporting new state-led economic models of green economic transformation and inclusive political participation

Fellowship Programs for Individuals:

  • Open Society Fellowship: $1,000 - $35,000 grants for public intellectuals in Beirut, Buenos Aires, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Jakarta, Lagos, and Taipei pursuing unconventional approaches to open society challenges
  • Leadership in Government Fellowship: For outstanding U.S. government leaders (city, county, tribal, state, and federal levels) to reflect on public service and expand their networks
  • Soros Justice Fellowships: For individuals advancing criminal legal system reform in the United States
  • Fellowship Advancement Fund: $1,000 - $35,000 grants to support OSF fellows' work

Grant Types:

  • Project-specific grants
  • General operating support
  • Multi-year commitments (ranging from 3 months to 5 years)
  • Grants through intermediaries for informal organizations or networks

Recent Major Commitments:

  • $340-350 million in multiyear programs across Africa (2024) to advance civic engagement, economic prosperity, and peacebuilding
  • Significant support for global reparations movement addressing historical injustices of slavery and colonialism
  • Shelter City Initiative for human rights defenders in danger

Priority Areas

Issue Areas:

  • Organizations challenging authoritarianism
  • Enforcement of accountability for human rights abuses
  • Economic justice and social rights for underprivileged peoples
  • Combating institutional and structural racism
  • Criminal justice reform
  • Transparency and accountability in governance
  • Independent media support
  • Public health advocacy
  • Education access
  • Women's rights and gender equity

Geographic Priorities: OSF operates globally with regional offices and strategies for:

  • United States
  • Europe and Central Asia
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Asia
  • Middle East and North Africa

Sample Funded Organizations (from recent grants):

  • Arena for Journalism in Europe
  • Ghana Center for Democratic Development
  • Asia Democracy Network
  • U.K. Citizens Online Democracy
  • Colombia's Corporacion Manos Visibles
  • Africa Platform for Social Protection
  • Global Alliance for Tax Justice
  • Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative
  • Institute for the Future of Work

What They Don't Fund

  • Fellowship programs do not fund enrollment for degree or non-degree study at academic institutions or dissertation research
  • Generally do not fund grassroots operations unless they can scale quickly and create regional coalitions
  • Will not provide more than one-third of any organization's budget in most cases
  • Do not fund organizations whose values and goals do not align with OSF's current strategic priorities
  • Have stated they "unequivocally condemn terrorism and do not fund terrorism"

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • Alex Soros, Chair
  • Daniel Sachs, Vice Chair
  • Maria Cattaui
  • Andrea E. Soros
  • Ivan Krastev
  • Tamiko Bolton Soros

The Board of Directors is the only body that reviews and advises with respect to all programs and entities within OSF, considering strategies and recommending corresponding budgets.

Executive Leadership:

  • Binaifer Nowrojee, President (since June 1, 2024)
  • Executive leadership team overseeing day-to-day operations

Leadership Perspective on Strategy:

Former President Mark Malloch-Brown articulated the foundation's renewed focus: "My hope is that we will become as fully focused as we can be on pushing back against the enemies of open society—and that we will restore the risk-taking, high-impact approach."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: The vast majority of OSF grants are awarded to organizations that the foundation approaches directly. However, OSF does accept applications through various mechanisms depending on the program.

Application Methods Vary by Program:

  • Requests for Proposals (RFPs): Some programs issue specific RFPs for targeted initiatives
  • Letters of Inquiry (LOIs): Other programs accept LOIs or concept papers
  • Invitation Only: Certain programs accept proposals by invitation only
  • Rolling Opportunities: Some programs accept applications on a rolling basis
  • Open Calls: Limited number of open grant opportunities posted on the OSF website

How to Find Opportunities:

  • Visit the main Open Society Foundations website (opensocietyfoundations.org/grants)
  • Check national and regional foundation websites for additional opportunities
  • Subscribe to email updates for new opportunities
  • Review specific program pages to assess alignment with your work

Application Considerations:

  • Each program has its own strategy and selection process
  • Organizations whose values, goals, and work align with program strategies should inquire with the relevant program
  • Organizations may apply to multiple OSF programs simultaneously; OSF will work to consolidate applications into a single grant where feasible
  • OSF funds formally established organizations as well as informal organizations or networks through intermediaries (fiscal sponsors, fiscal agents)

Fellowship Applications:

  • Fellowship programs have specific application portals (e.g., fellowships.submittable.com for Open Society Fellowship)
  • Each fellowship has its own eligibility criteria, deadlines, and application requirements

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary significantly by program and are not standardized across OSF. Given the diverse range of programs and funding mechanisms, applicants should inquire with the specific program about expected timelines.

Example Timeline (Leadership in Government Fellowship):

  • Applications reviewed on rolling basis
  • Selection of prospective fellows communicated in early October
  • Grants awarded (contingent on compliance review) for fellowships starting in early November

Success Rates

OSF does not publicly disclose overall success rates. With 2,350+ grants awarded in 2023 from what is likely tens of thousands of inquiries and proposals, grantmaking is described as highly competitive and selective.

Reapplication Policy

OSF does not specify formal restrictions on reapplication. Organizations are encouraged to maintain relationships with relevant programs and stay informed about changing priorities and new opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities:

OSF emphasizes that "grantmaking has been highly competitive, so make sure to identify the main priorities of the program to which you're applying." Each satellite office and program maintains its own requirements and deadlines, making program-specific research essential.

Research Past Grants:

A critical success factor is conducting thorough research on past grants awarded by the foundation. Analyzing the types of projects funded, geographical focus, and specific outcomes achieved provides insights into what resonates with OSF's decision-makers. The foundation maintains a searchable database of past grants at opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past.

Demonstrate Clear Social Impact:

Organizations must demonstrate a clear understanding of the social issues they aim to address, identifying specific problems and articulating how their proposed solutions resonate with OSF's overarching goals. According to guidance materials, "OSF looks for grantees who have a vision and whose efforts will lead to lasting social change."

Strong Narrative and Measurable Outcomes:

A well-crafted narrative is essential for capturing reviewers' attention and should clearly articulate the problem being addressed, the proposed solution, and the anticipated impact. If past successful proposals emphasized measurable impact and sustainability, organizations should include clear metrics for success and plans for long-term viability.

Demonstrate Capacity to Scale:

Given OSF's stated preference not to fund grassroots operations unless they can scale quickly and create regional coalitions, organizations should demonstrate scalability and potential for broader impact.

Authentic Passion and Commitment:

Organizations should present genuine enthusiasm for their work within proposals. As guidance notes, "Genuine enthusiasm can resonate with reviewers and make a lasting impression when combined with professionalism and commitment to their mission."

Flexibility in Fund Usage:

OSF seeks to provide grantees with flexibility on how to use funds where appropriate, including general support. Proposals should demonstrate responsible stewardship while articulating how flexible funding would enhance impact.

Understanding of OSF's Evolution:

Organizations should understand OSF's strategic transformation from standing programs to time-bound goals. The new model favors both patient capital approaches and tactical short-term interventions, creating what the board calls "strategic opportunism."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Most grants are proactive: The vast majority of OSF grants go to organizations the foundation approaches directly, making relationship-building and visibility in your sector crucial for long-term success
  • Program-specific research is essential: Each OSF program has its own strategy, priorities, requirements, and deadlines—generic proposals will not succeed in this highly competitive environment
  • Demonstrate scalability and coalition-building: OSF generally does not fund grassroots operations unless they can scale quickly and create regional coalitions; show your potential for broader impact
  • Study the grants database: OSF maintains a searchable database of past grants—use it to understand what types of projects, organizations, and approaches have been successfully funded in your area
  • Align with the strategic transformation: OSF is shifting to time-bound goals and "strategic opportunism"—demonstrate how your work fits into both immediate tactical needs and longer-term patient capital approaches
  • Budget considerations matter: OSF will not provide more than one-third of most organizations' budgets, so demonstrate diversified funding and financial sustainability
  • Multiple program applications are allowed: You may apply to multiple OSF programs simultaneously, and the foundation will consolidate where feasible, so identify all relevant program alignments

References

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