Highlights from Over 30 Years of the Open Society Foundations in Hungary

The Open Society Foundations, which now work in over 100 countries, began in 1984 in Hungary, when George Soros set up his first philanthropic foundation in what was then a communist country. Over the years, the development of what was then called the Hungarian Soros Foundation reflected the dramatic political events that unfolded in that country.

These earliest developments helped set the priorities that guide the Open Society Foundations today. This publication chronicles how our work in Hungary has evolved over the past three decades, increasing in scope to include everything from journalism to education to health care. Today, the Open Society Foundations continue to fund groups in Hungary, providing over $1 million per year to over 30 Hungarian NGOs.