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Voices

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens.

Learn more about who we are
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Open Society’s Response to COVID-19

An Unprecedented Challenge

To confront the enormous problems raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are committing more than $130 million in support of those who are most vulnerable.

Read more from Open Society Foundations President Patrick Gaspard.

Working with Our Grantees in a Time of Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic directly threatens the work and well-being of many groups and individuals that receive our support. We are committed to helping them through the crisis.

Read more from Open Society Foundations Vice President Leonard Benardo.

How we work

Every year, the Open Society Foundations give thousands of grants to groups and individuals who promote our values—through a unique network that is guided by local voices and global expertise. 

$16.8B Total expenditures

Over the past three decades, our giving has focused on supporting people who are trying to make their communities fairer, freer, and more harmonious.

$1.2B 2020 budget

Our decentralized and bottom-up approach allows us to focus on long-term strategies while also remaining nimble and flexible enough to respond to sudden crises.

50,000+ Total Grants Awarded

Our grants—ranging from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars—are awarded to organizations, scholars, and activists in over 120 countries.

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What we do

The Open Society Foundations are active in more than 120 countries around the world. Our national and regional foundations and thematic programs give thousands of grants every year toward building inclusive and vibrant democracies.

Where We Work

  1. Africa
  2. Asia Pacific
  3. Eurasia
  4. Europe
  5. Latin America and the Caribbean
  6. Middle East and North Africa
  7. United States

Africa

George Soros began his philanthropic work in Africa in 1979. Today, the Open Society Foundations have a network of foundations and offices across the continent, working on democratic governance, economic advancement, and a host of other issues.

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Asia Pacific

The Open Society Foundations have been expanding and deepening its work in Asia—engaging on pressing local and regional issues, from ensuring protections for migrant workers to supporting independent journalism and human rights advocates.

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Eurasia

In Eurasia, a region of politically diverse states with widely differing levels of democratic development, the Open Society Foundations seek to promote citizen engagement in everyday issues such as local government and education.

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Europe

From Brussels to the Balkans, the Open Society Foundations are actively engaged in supporting an inclusive and democratic vision of Europe—building on George Soros’s early commitments to the region after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

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Latin America and the Caribbean

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the Open Society Foundations’ work ranges from drug policy reform and reducing violence, to promoting government transparency and media freedom, to expanding the participation of women in politics.

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Middle East and North Africa

The Open Society Foundations’ work in the Middle East and North Africa seeks to promote democratic governance and to protect human rights amid entrenched regional conflicts and political restrictions.

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United States

In the United States, the Open Society Foundations work with organizations and individuals who seek to address profound racial, economic, and political inequalities, while funding efforts to prepare for the policy challenges of the future.

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George Soros

George Soros

George Soros is the founder and chair of the Open Society Foundations. He has given away more than $32 billion of his personal fortune to fund the Open Society Foundations’ work around the world.

Learn more about George Soros

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