Skip to main content

what we do

The Open Society Foundations give grants to a diverse array of groups and who work in different ways to promote democratic practice, human rights, equity, and justice. We support this work at both national and global levels through advocacy in our own name, as well as through impact investing and legal action.


World map

Themes

Our global work has four areas of focus—Rights and Dignity, Democratic Practice, Equity in Governance, and Future Worlds. These interconnected elements are vital to open societies and provide the organizing framework for what we do.
  • Democratic Practice

    Around the world, Open Society works to promote free and open debate that holds those in power accountable for their actions.

  • Equity in Governance

    Open Society supports efforts to counter national and global imbalances of power that perpetuate injustice and fuel division and conflict.

  • Future Worlds

    Amid rapid economic, demographic, and technological changes, and amid the climate emergency, Open Society supports the imagining of our common future, and the search for solutions to human problems that are firmly grounded in equity and justice.

  • Rights and Dignity

    We work with local and global groups, with individuals, and with governments, to support a comprehensive vision of human rights that protects individual freedoms and fairness, while advancing the dignity and well-being of all people.

Subscribe to updates about Open Society’s work around the world

By entering your email address and clicking “Submit,” you agree to receive updates from the Open Society Foundations about our work. To learn more about how we use and protect your personal data, please view our privacy policy.