Source description last updated: 22 May 2023

In brief: The Open Society Foundations (OSF) are a network of private foundations that provides funding to civil society actors working for justice, democracy, and human rights.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Selected reports and press releases

No regular coverage.

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

The Open Society Foundations were established in the 1980s (OSF website: Our History, undated) by the Hungarian-born US investor George Soros (OSF website: George Soros, undated). Their aim to promote justice, equity, and human dignity “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” (OSF website: Who We Are, undated).

“Every year, the Open Society Foundations give thousands of grants to groups and individuals that work on the issues we focus on.” Moreover, they engage in human rights litigation and targeted investing (OSF website: How We Work, undated). “When appropriate, and in consultation with partners, we engage in direct advocacy with governments and policymakers to promote inclusive and just public policy at the national, regional, and international levels.” (OSF website: How We Work, undated)

The OSF state that they provide funding to groups and projects in over 120 countries (OSF website: Who We Are, undated). As of September 2021, OSF had 45 offices worldwide, including six regional offices (OSF website: The Open Society Foundations Move Ahead on Transformation, 1 September 2021). However, several branch offices have closed since then (see, for example, Premium Times Nigeria: Notification of office closure and reaffirmation of our commitment to partnerships in Nigeria, 27 January 2023, AKIpress News Agency: Open Society Foundation closing its branch office in Tajikistan, 26 November 2022, and The Baltimore Banner: OSI is leaving Baltimore. What will that mean for the programs it funds?, 16 February 2023) as part of the OSF’s efforts to consolidate its programmes and focus on a smaller number of key priority areas (OSF: The Open Society Foundations Move Ahead on Transformation, 1 September 2021).

Funding:

The OSF is funded by George Soros, who has transferred over 32 billion US dollars of his personal fortune to the Foundations since 1984, including 18 billion dollars in 2017 (OSF website: George Soros, undated). The OSF’s total expenditures during the year 2021 amounted to 1,545.6 million US dollars. (OSF website: Financials, undated).

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: United States, Europe and Central Asia, Africa, MENA region, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean

Thematic focus: equal treatment; justice; climate justice; freedom of expression, privacy, access to information

Methodology:

OSF reports may be written/edited by staff members (see, for example, OSF: Uganda’s Future: Navigating a precarious Transition; The Role of the International Community, June 2022) or external researchers (see, for example, OSF: North Macedonia: What’s Next?, January 2019). They may be based on public sources (including government, IGO, NGO, and media reports; social media posts; academic journal articles) and interviews with experts from various domains such as policy analysis, international organisations, and diplomacy. Sources may be referenced in the text body, in footnotes (see, for example, OSF: Uganda’s Future: Navigating a precarious Transition; The Role of the International Community, June 2022) or in endnotes (see, for example, OSF: North Macedonia: What’s Next?, January 2019, pp. 21-22).

Language of publication:

English

Methodological note:

ecoi.net's source descriptions contain background information on an organisation’s mission & objective, funding and reporting methodology, as well as on how we cover the source. The descriptions were prepared after researching publicly accessible information within time constraints. Most information contained in a source description was taken from the source itself. The aim is to provide a brief introduction to the sources covered regularly, offering information on relevant aspects in one place in a systematic manner. 

All links accessed 22 May 2023.