Foundation to Promote Open Society
ActivePhilanthropy & VoluntarismFunds Individuals
About Foundation to Promote Open Society
The Foundation to Promote Open Society focuses on advancing open, democratic societies worldwide by funding a mix of international advocacy, higher education and exchange programs, and domestic movement-building initiatives. It prioritizes support for institutions that build civic capacity, protect human rights, and expand inclusion for marginalized groups (e.g., Roma, immigrants, Black communities), often using intermediaries and fiscal sponsors to scale work across regions.
Focus Areas
Support for pro-democracy and governance initiatives across Europe, Africa, and Eurasia (including country-level Open Society initiatives)Higher education, international exchange, and scholarship programs (Central European University, Bard/OSUN, Institute of International Education)Inclusion and rights for marginalized ethnic groups, especially Roma programs and related scholarship/supportU.S. racial justice and civic participation movement-building (Movement for Black Lives, ColorOfChange, Black-led donor collaboratives)Policy research, conflict prevention, and international peacebuilding (International Crisis Group, Carnegie)
Who They Fund
About Foundation to Promote Open Society
Foundation to Promote Open Society’s recent grants show a funder backing large institutional platforms that work on democracy, rights, and inclusion at scale. One of the clearest signals is its support for Open Society Foundation London, with awards of $44,927,239 in 2025, $41,197,788 in 2024, and $42,768,104 in 2023 to promote open, democratic societies around the world through non-lobbying work. The foundation also funds major infrastructure for civic and policy work, including $25,000,000 to Soros Economic Development Fund in 2025 for program-related investments and $20,000,000 to Bard College for general support. Its grants extend across movement-building and rights-based efforts, from the Roma Foundation for Europe to U.S. democracy and racial justice intermediaries. The pattern suggests a grantmaker that favors organizations, collaboratives, and fiscally sponsored projects rather than small, one-off awards. It also supports higher education and exchange-linked institutions, such as Central European University, alongside advocacy and public-interest organizations working on human rights, democratic governance, and equitable participation.
What Foundation to Promote Open Society Funds
A central theme is democratic governance and accountability. In 2024, the foundation gave $12,000,000 to International Crisis Group (Washington Office) for general support, and $5,000,000 to Voter Registration Project for general support, showing attention to both international conflict and domestic democratic participation. It also supports election-related litigation: Hopewell Fund received $5,000,000 in 2023 for the Democracy Docket Legal Fund, which challenges suppressive voting laws and practices in court. Another recurring area is racial justice and Latinx organizing. Common Counsel Foundation received $6,000,000 in 2024 for the Movement for Black Lives, while Amalgamated Charitable Foundation received $8,362,000 in 2023 for the Equis Institute, which supports Latinx community-based organizations. The foundation also funds immigrant and marginalized-community inclusion through BuildUS Fund at Amalgamated Charitable Foundation.
How Foundation to Promote Open Society Gives
Typical grants cluster at substantial levels: the 25th percentile is $100,000, the median is $220,000, and the 75th percentile is $450,000. That distribution sits alongside a smaller number of very large institutional awards, which shape the overall pattern. The funder is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not make program-related investments itself, though it does support a separate social impact investing arm. Recipients appear across multiple years, especially major intermediaries and institutions, which points to recurring relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation also funds individuals through fellowship programs, though its core grantmaking is directed to organizations. Most grants are awarded to organizations the foundation approaches directly, and unsolicited applications are not part of the listed organizational programs.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.7B
Total Assets
$10.8B
Total Revenue
$935M
Total Expenses
$460.8M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $100K and $450K, with a median of $220K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$220K
75th Percentile
$450K
Geographic Reach
National43 states funded
About 36% of grants go to recipients in DC.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Foundation to Promote Open Society Funds
Top 10 recipient countries by grant volume for Foundation to Promote Open Society.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 1,640 | $2.8B | 45.9% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 191 | $446.2M |
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