Overview
Open Society Foundations (OSF) is a global philanthropic network founded by George Soros, with formal establishment in 1993. It aims to promote open societies grounded in democracy, human rights, and justice. The organisation has grown into one of the world’s largest private funders of civil society initiatives.
Mission and focus areas
OSF focuses on advancing rights, equity, and democratic governance through support for independent organisations and public policy engagement. Its thematic priorities include rights and dignity, democratic practice, equitable governance, and future societal challenges, including economic and environmental change.
The organisation contributes indirectly to sustainable finance and ESG by funding initiatives related to accountability, transparency, and inclusive economic systems. It also engages in impact investing and advocacy, supporting solutions that address systemic risks and long-term societal resilience.
Structure and governance
OSF operates as a decentralised network with offices across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. Governance is overseen by a Board of Directors, with leadership including a chair and president responsible for strategic direction and organisational oversight.
Its structure combines global coordination with regional and thematic programmes, enabling partnerships with local organisations and stakeholders. This distributed model supports responsiveness to regional priorities while maintaining alignment with overall mission objectives.
Programs and offerings
OSF primarily provides grants to civil society organisations, alongside fellowships, scholarships, and capacity-building initiatives. It also supports strategic litigation through the Open Society Justice Initiative and publishes research and thought leadership on governance, rights, and public policy.
In addition, the organisation undertakes impact investing through the Soros Economic Development Fund and funds education initiatives such as the Open Society University Network. These programmes offer resources and insights relevant to practitioners working on governance, risk, and sustainability-related challenges.
Mission
The Open Society Foundations champion the search for bold, democratic solutions to our urgent, common challenges that advance rights, equity, and justice.
We do this by supporting a wide array of independent voices and organizations around the world that provide a creative and dynamic link between the governing and the governed.
Our approach seeks to counter the narrow pursuit of political self-interest and short-term opportunism—in pursuit of a sustainable future for people and planet that leaves no one behind.
