---
title: Open Society Foundations
type: philanthropy
status: active
country: US
website: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org
logo: /assets/org-logos/open-society-foundations.png
contact:
  checked: 2026-07-30
  email: media@opensocietyfoundations.org
  form: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/contact
  source: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/contact
summary: The world's largest private funder of independent groups working for rights,
  equity, and justice — founded by George Soros in 1979, with grants, fellowships,
  and national foundations active across 100+ countries.
concepts:
- democracy
- radical-transparency
- direct-democracy
location:
  latitude: 40.7128
  longitude: -74.006
  name: New York, USA
  precision: city
news_page: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom
events:
- date: '1993-04-01'
  title: Founded by George Soros to support civil society, human rights, and democratic
    governance globally
  url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Society_Foundations
  quote: is an American grantmaking network founded by billionaire business magnate
    George Soros
  proof_level: high
  url_checked: '2026-08-10'
  notable: true
- date: '2023-03-07'
  title: Announced leadership transition — Alex Soros appointed chair, succeeding
    George Soros
  url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Society_Foundations
  quote: George Soros handed over the leadership of the foundation to his son Alexander
    Soros
  proof_level: high
  url_checked: '2026-08-10'
  notable: false
activity:
  manual:
    checked: 2026-06-07
    date: 2026-05-20
    note: website loaded. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom has  May
      20, 2026 'Open Society Foundations Launch $300 Million Initiative to Advance
      Economic Security and Defend Civil Liberties in the United States'
    url: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom
  rss:
    checked: 2026-08-17
    note: No feed found
  scrape:
    date: 2026-08-11
    note: Latest news page scraped
    url: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom
    checked: 2026-08-17
last_checked: '2026-05-29'
---

The Open Society Foundations (OSF) are a global network of foundations founded by George Soros in 1979. Beginning with scholarships for Black South African students and support for East European dissidents, OSF grew into the world's largest private funder of independent civil society organisations working on democracy, human rights, justice, and equity.

OSF operates through a network of national and regional foundations and awards grants and fellowships throughout the year. The vast majority of grants are made through direct relationships rather than open calls, though some open opportunities are listed on their website. Relevant funding areas include democratic governance, civic participation, transparency, independent media, and civic technology.

For organisations working in the democracy design and civic tech space, OSF is one of the primary international funders to be aware of, alongside foundations like Luminate (Omidyar Network's democracy and civic tech arm) and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

## Key people

- **[George Soros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros)** — founder. Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist who established OSF in 1979, drawing on philosopher Karl Popper's concept of the "open society" as a framework for pluralist, rights-respecting governance. One of the largest private funders of democracy, civil society, and human rights work globally.

## Links

- Website: [opensocietyfoundations.org](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org)
- Grants and fellowships: [opensocietyfoundations.org/grants](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants)

## See also

- [Democracy](../concepts/democracy.md)
- [Radical Transparency](../concepts/radical-transparency.md)
- [Susan McKinnon Foundation](susan-mckinnon-foundation.md)
- [Luminate](luminate.md)