Background

The Open Society Foundations began in 1979 when George Soros decided he had enough money. His great success as a hedge fund manager allowed him to pursue his ambition of establishing open societies in place of authoritarian forms of government. “Open society is based on the recognition that our understanding of the world is inherently imperfect,” Soros said. “What is imperfect can be improved.” He started by supporting scholarships for black students at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and for Eastern European dissidents to study abroad. Soros set up his first non-U.S. foundation in Hungary in 1984. His signature move was to distribute photocopiers to universities, libraries, and civil society groups, breaking the communist party’s grip on information. By the fall of the Berlin Wall, Soros had established two more foundations, in Poland and Russia. As communism collapsed, Soros moved quickly to seize the revolutionary moment and create foundations in countries throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. His work contributed to the emergence of democratic governments and substantially more open societies in most countries of the former Soviet empire. To help train a new generation of political and economic leaders, Soros founded the Central European University in 1991 as a center of research and policy analysis that promotes the principles of open, democratic societies. Support for education programs, from early childhood to university, accounted for as much as half of the Open Society Foundations’ annual program expenditures. Beginning in 1993, the Foundations provided tens of millions of dollars for humanitarian aid and relief efforts during the wars in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, especially in besieged Sarajevo where construction crews braved sniper fire and artillery shells to connect residents to gas lines, electricity, and drinking water.

Value

We believe in fundamental human rights, dignity, and the rule of law. We believe in a society where all people are free to participate fully in civic, economic, and cultural life. We believe in addressing inequalities that cut across multiple lines, including race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and citizenship. We believe in holding those in power accountable for their actions and in increasing the power of historically excluded groups. We believe in helping people and communities press for change on their own behalf. We believe in responding quickly and flexibly to the most critical threats to open society. We believe in taking on controversial issues and supporting bold, innovative solutions that address root causes and advance systemic change. We believe in encouraging critical debate and respecting diverse opinions.

Mission

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. We seek to strengthen the rule of law; respect for human rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected governments; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check. We help to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. We implement initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. We build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. Working in every part of the world, the Open Society Foundations place a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities.

Project Summary

1. Documentary Photography Project 2. Education Support Program 3. Fiscal Governance Program 4. Higher Education Support Program 5. Independent Journalism 6. International Migration Initiative 7. New Executives Fund 8. Open Society Initiative for Europe 9. Open Society Justice Initiative 10. Open Society Youth Fellowship 11. Roma Initiatives Office 12. Soros Economic Development Fund 13. Women’s Rights Program 14. Early Childhood Program 15. Eurasia Program 16. Global Drug Policy Program 17. Human Rights Initiative 18. Information Program 19. Latin America Program 20. Open Society Fellowship 21. Open Society Internship for Rights and Governance 22. Open Society Presidential Fellowship 23. Public Health Program 24. Scholarship Programs 25. U.S. Programs