Funding search · EIN 263753801 · New York, NY

Foundation To Promote Open Society

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

3,312
grants reported
$1.72B
total given
2022–2024
filing years
$250,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 20222024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

workresearchrightspublicjusticehumansponsoredpolicy

Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

  • General support for democracy and civil society groups worldwide
  • Open Society network affiliates and national foundations abroad
  • Human rights defenders, accountability, and justice organizations
  • Green industrial policy, climate finance, and economic development research
  • Higher education tied to Bard, CEU, and the Open Society University Network
  • Latin American and African policy research and civic power building

Typical grant

Median grant is $250,000, with the middle half running $105,000 to $500,000. The eight-figure checks go to network entities and long-standing institutional partners such as Open Society Foundation London, Bard College, Central European University, and the Soros Economic Development Fund, while most everyone else lands between $100,000 and $1 million. Many recipients appear more than once in the same year and across years, so repeat and multi-tranche giving is the norm rather than the exception.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

  • TO PROVIDE GENERAL SUPPORT
  • open, democratic societies around the world
  • TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
  • green industrial policy
  • civil society, inclusion, and human rights
  • marginalized communities

Positioning adjacent work

  • Tie research to green industrial policy, climate finance, or state capacity in the Global South.
  • Ask $250,000 to $1 million; above that requires an existing institutional relationship.
  • Frame outputs as research and analysis that informs policymakers, not academic publication.
  • Consider a fiscal sponsor like New Venture Fund, Proteus, or Amalgamated; they fund these routinely.

Worth knowing: Money concentrates hard in New York and Washington DC and in the Open Society network itself, with a handful of affiliates and Bard-linked entities absorbing several hundred million. Giving looks strongly relationship-driven and heavily international, so a cold approach from an unconnected US-based researcher faces long odds without a partner already inside their portfolio.

43 grants matching “conduct · $25.8M

  • $2.0M

    Sustainable Solutions for Africa (Ssa) · 2024

    To conduct research and prepare and disseminate educational information on climate adaptation

  • $1.2M

    Organizacao De Estados Ibero-Americanos Para a Edu · 2024

    To conduct research and analysis on the possible territorialization of the brazilian ecological transformation plan of brazil's northeast and amazon regions

  • $860,000

    University of Ghana · 2024

    In support of a project, to be conducted by its institute for africa studies, to contribute to understanding and addressing obstacles to a transformative social policy in africa

  • $530,800

    European Council On Foreign Relations · 2024

    To conduct research and policy analysis on a variety of issues facing europe today

  • $350,000

    Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies · Washington, DC · 2024

    To support the development of new narratives and strategies to engage historically disenfranchised communities by conducting research and education activities

  • $335,000

    European Centre for Development Policy Management · 2024

    To provide support for research, policy analysis, convenings, and communications activities to be conducted collaboratively by european and african think tanks, to inform and contribute to a more value-based, interest-d read all
  • $277,000

    Upwardly Global · New York, NY · 2024

    To conduct a pilot project on workforce and peer support for exiled and nonprofit activists and human rights defenders

  • $233,333

    Pan African Climate Justice Alliance · 2024

    To conduct research, analysis, and training to educate and build the capacity of non-state actors (women, youth, smallholder farmers, local and indigenous communities) in south africa, namibia, democratic republic of co read all
  • $200,000

    University of Pretoria · 2024

    In support of the organization for youth and elections in botswana (oyebo), a fiscally-sponsored project of the university of pretorias centre for human rights, to conduct capacity-building and training activities to st read all
  • $100,000

    Credit Rating Analytics (Pty) Ltd · 2024

    To support piloting the nano, micro, small and medium enterprise (nmsme) grading system in nigeria, conducting research to test and refine the system and to increase awareness of the nmsme grading concept

  • $90,000

    Centro De Periodismo Investigativo · 2024

    To support a pan-caribbean journalism network, that will conduct training and events to connect and build investigative journalism capacity across the region

  • $75,000

    American University · Washington, DC · 2024

    To support a washington college of law conference to conduct an in-depth analysis of the current state of international law pertaining to the immunity of state officials

  • $3.5M

    New America Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023

    To support the grantee's new practice lab, which conducts research and analysis on family economic security and wellbeing

  • $2.5M

    Global Fund for Women · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    To support the building of another world that is affirming of black women and gender expansive people by building a network of black women in philanthropy, conducting research on how black women are supported and provid read all
  • $2.0M

    Institute of International Education · New York, NY · 2023

    To allow the grantee to manage a travel and learning fund for latin american individuals and organizations to participate in convenings, exchanges, education, global learning, conducting research, and travel

  • $2.0M

    Institute of International Education · New York, NY · 2023

    To allow the grantee to create and manage a travel and learning fund for individuals and organizations to participate in convenings, exchanges, education, global learning, conducting research, and travel

  • $1.0M

    Sustainable Solutions for Africa (Ssa) · 2023

    To conduct research, prepare and disseminate educational information, advocacy, and training on climate adaptation to ensure that relevant stakeholders keep justice and human rights at the core of effective climate acti read all
  • $860,000

    University of Ghana · 2023

    In support of a project, to be conducted by its institute for africa studies, to contribute to understanding and addressing obstacles to a transformative social policy in africa

  • $500,000

    The Apoliticalag Foundation Ggmbh · 2023

    To support increasing the knowledge of democratic renewal and citizen participation approaches by conducting trainings and disseminating learning modules

  • $450,000

    Institute of International Education · New York, NY · 2023

    To allow the grantee to manage a travel and learning fund for new opportunities for individuals and organizations to participate in convenings, exchanges, education, global learning, conducting research, and travel

  • $450,000

    Fundacao Getulio Vargas · 2023

    To support the center for technology & society to advance digital rights policy development to benefit the general population by conducting research projects related to data regulations and platform governance

  • $400,000

    Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project · Grafton, WI · 2023

    To support the yemen conflict observatory, which will collect and analyze data on airstrikes and other sources of civilian harm in the conflict in yemen in order to increase transparency over the conduct of the war and read all
  • $335,000

    European Centre for Development Policy Management · 2023

    To provide support for research, policy analysis, convenings, and communications activities to be conducted collaboratively by european and african think tanks, to inform and contribute to a more value-based, interest-d read all
  • $300,000

    The Commonwealth Secretariat · 2023

    To conduct research and educate commonwealth climate-vulnerable countries on equitable, just, and rights-based public data management policies to support response to climate change including adaptation to the climate cr read all
  • $277,000

    Upwardly Global · New York, NY · 2023

    To conduct a pilot project on workforce and peer support for exiled and nonprofit activists and human rights defenders

  • $250,000

    Center for Advanced Defense Studies · Washington, DC · 2023

    To identify and investigate chinese firms investing in or conducting environmentally degrading activity abroad

  • $235,000

    Center for Strategic and International Studies · Washington, DC · 2023

    To conduct research and analysis on topics related to human rights and democracy in ukraine

  • $233,333

    Pan African Climate Justice Alliance · 2023

    To conduct research, analysis, and training to educate and build the capacity of non-state actors (women, youth, smallholder farmers, local and indigenous communities) in south africa, namibia, democratic republic of co read all
  • $150,000

    Utah Film Center · Salt Lake City, UT · 2023

    To conduct research and raise awareness through a film on how the world could collectively solve this existential crisis of climate change

  • $150,000

    Cornell University · Ithaca, NY · 2023

    To support the global strategic litigation council for refugee rights to empower civil society globally and in particular across the global south to conduct coordinated strategic litigation and other legal strategies th read all
  • $105,000

    Centro De Periodismo Investigativo · 2023

    To support a pan-caribbean journalism network, that will conduct training and events to connect and build investigative journalism capacity across the region

  • $100,000

    Montclair State University Foundation · Montclair, NJ · 2023

    To coordinate and conduct education training to dispel misinformation on drug overdose amongst the community in paterson

  • $77,000

    Bard College Berlin a Liberal Arts University Ggmb · 2023

    To support open society university network professorship that brings distinguished scholars to teach and conduct research at bard college berlin in 2023/24 academic year

  • $62,700

    Proteus Fund · Amherst, MA · 2023

    To support the transparency and accountability initiative-a donor collaborative, a fiscally-sponsored project of the grantee, to conduct an assessment to identify gaps and opportunities for action both by civil society read all
  • $2.4M

    Institute of International Education · New York, NY · 2022

    To allow the grantee to create and manage a travel and learning fund for latin american individuals and organizations to participate in convenings, exchanges, education, global learning, conducting research, and travel

  • $257,200

    Central European University · New York, NY · 2022

    To provide community organizations with research to support their work, conducted by students at ceu and the european humanities university

  • $250,000

    Cubalex · Memphis, TN · 2022

    To conduct international documentation and advocacy for the effective defense of human rights

  • $190,000

    Bard College · Annandaleonhudson, NY · 2022

    To support a fellow as a visiting faculty member conducting research and teaching on the israel-palestine conflict at bard college

  • $155,000

    Centro De Periodismo Investigativo · 2022

    To support a pan-caribbean journalism network, that will conduct training and events to connect and build investigative journalism capacity across the region

  • $150,000

    Business & Human Rights Resource Centre US Ltd · New York, NY · 2022

    To conduct research and prepare and disseminate educational information, advocacy and training to ensure that relevant stakeholders keep justice and human rights at the core of effective climate action

  • $100,000

    Climate Jobs National Resource Center · New York, NY · 2022

    To conduct research and prepare and broadly disseminate a report regarding institutional investors transitioning to clean-energy investing and host convenings and facilitate collaboration regarding the same.

  • $100,000

    University of York · 2022

    To support the grantee's centre for applied human rights to conduct research and organize workshops, exhibitions and networking events for human rights defenders

  • $50,000

    North Carolina State University · Raleigh, NC · 2022

    To conduct research to ascertain the availability of medications for opioid use disorder in north carolina residential treatment programs, and to disseminate findings from the research with an eye toward ensuring fundin read all

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

  • Open Society Foundation London5 grants · $148.0M
  • Soros Economic Development Fund3 grants · $55.8M
  • Central European University51 grants · $54.0M
  • Bard College36 grants · $43.9M
  • Amalgamated Charitable Foundation18 grants · $29.1M
  • Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors34 grants · $25.3M
  • Roma Foundation for Europe2 grants · $21.0M
  • The Boston Foundation1 grant · $20.0M
  • Alliance for Open Society International3 grants · $19.8M
  • Open Society Initiative for West Africa1 grant · $19.5M

Giving over time

$484.1M
2022
$758.4M
2023
$481.5M
2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 3,312 grants.

  • $44.9M

    Open Society Foundation London · 2024

    To support non-lobbying activities and programs promoting open, democratic societies around the world

  • $42.8M

    Open Society Foundation London · 2022

    To support non-lobbying activities and programs promoting open, democratic societies around the world

  • $41.2M

    Open Society Foundation London · 2023

    To support non-lobbying activities and programs promoting open, democratic societies around the world

  • $25.0M

    Soros Economic Development Fund · New York, NY · 2024

    To support grantee's program related investment activities

  • $20.6M

    Soros Economic Development Fund · New York, NY · 2023

    To support grantee's program related investment activities

  • $20.0M

    Bard College · Annandaleonhudson, NY · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $20.0M

    The Boston Foundation · Boston, MA · 2024

    To support the fokal designated fund

  • $19.5M

    Open Society Initiative for West Africa · 2023

    To support the grantee's non-lobbying programs, which promote inclusive democratic governance, transparent and accountable institutions, and active citizenship in africa

  • $15.6M

    Roma Foundation for Europe · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $15.0M

    Central European University · New York, NY · 2024

    To support research, outreach activities and operating costs of the budapest-based units of central european university in the 2024/25 academic year

  • $15.0M

    Central European University · New York, NY · 2023

    To support research, outreach activities and operating costs of the budapest site of central european university in 2023/24 academic year

  • $12.3M

    Alliance for Open Society International · New York, NY · 2023

    To provide support for open society institute-baltimore's charitable programs and operations

  • $12.0M

    International Crisis Group (Washington Office) · Washington, DC · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $11.0M

    Open Society Foundation London · 2023

    To support non-lobbying activities and programs promoting open, democratic societies around the world

  • $10.2M

    Soros Economic Development Fund · New York, NY · 2022

    To support grantee's program related investment activities

  • $10.0M

    Equis Institute · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $10.0M

    Hopewell Fund · Washington, DC · 2023

    To support the nonpartisan free election fund, a sponsored project of the grantee that protects the rights of all citizens to participate fully in our democratic process and safeguards our free and fair elections

  • $8.4M

    Amalgamated Charitable Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023

    To support the buildus fund, a sponsored project of the grantee, in ensuring the equitable implementation of federal legislation for marginalized communities across the u.s.

  • $8.4M

    Amalgamated Charitable Foundation · Washington, DC · 2022

    To support the equis institute, a project of the grantee that seeks to help latinx community-based organizations overcome racism and historic disenfranchisement to elevate latinx voices in our democracy

  • $8.1M

    Open Society Foundation London · 2024

    To support non-lobbying activities and programs promoting open, democratic societies around the world

  • $6.9M

    Alliance for Open Society International · New York, NY · 2022

    To provide support for open society institute-baltimore's charitable programs and operations

  • $6.2M

    Roma Education Fund Romania Foundation · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $6.0M

    Common Counsel Foundation · Oakland, CA · 2023

    To support the movement for black lives, a project of the grantee that creates alternative solutions to harmful institutions, policies, and practices for all black communities across the nation

  • $5.7M

    European Council On Foreign Relations · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $5.4M

    Roma Foundation for Europe · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $5.2M

    Amnesty International Limited · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $5.0M

    The National Trust for Local News · Lexington, MA · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $5.0M

    Voter Registration Project · Washington, DC · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $5.0M

    Equis Institute · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    To provide general support

  • $5.0M

    Hopewell Fund · Washington, DC · 2022

    To support the democracy docket legal fund, which challenges suppressive voting laws and practices in court

  • $4.4M

    International Crisis Group (Washington Office) · Washington, DC · 2022

    To provide general support

  • $4.4M

    Possibility Labs · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    To support cllctivly, a fiscally sponsored project of the grantee, to launch the maryland black futures fund that will deploy capital to black power-building and movement-based organizations in maryland

  • $4.2M

    Colorofchangeorg Education Fund · Oakland, CA · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $4.1M

    Fondation Connaissance Et Liberte · 2022

    To provide general support

  • $4.0M

    Borealis Philanthropy · Minneapolis, MN · 2023

    To support the black-led movement fund, a project of the grantee, a national donor collaborative seeking to build a new generation of racial justice advocates promoting systemic social change

  • $4.0M

    Bvm Capacity Building Institute · Atlanta, GA · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $4.0M

    Borealis Philanthropy · Minneapolis, MN · 2022

    To expand the efforts of the communities transforming policing fund to identify, support, and nurture promising community-based police reform campaigns

  • $4.0M

    Open Society Foundation for Albania · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $3.9M

    Fondation Connaissance Et Liberte · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $3.8M

    Institute for Human Sciences · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $3.5M

    New America Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023

    To support the grantee's new practice lab, which conducts research and analysis on family economic security and wellbeing

  • $3.4M

    Open Society Foundation Ggmbh · 2022

    To support non-lobbying activities and programs promoting open, democratic societies around the world

  • $3.4M

    Tides Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    To support the asia advancement fund to enhance participatory and good governance in south asia

  • $3.3M

    Open Society Foundation for Albania · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $3.3M

    Neo Philanthropy · New York, NY · 2023

    To support the four freedoms fund, a project of the grantee that works to protect immigrants rights and ensure immigrants full inclusion within american society and communities

  • $3.2M

    Redi International · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $3.2M

    Civil Society Foundation · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $3.0M

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2023

    To support the grantees fiscally sponsored program, climate emergency collaboration group, to coordinate a strong philanthropic collaboration, provide nimble strategic funding, and bring greater alignment around the key read all
  • $3.0M

    Carnegie Endowment for International Peace · Washington, DC · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $3.0M

    Fondation Connaissance Et Liberte · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $3.0M

    United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Cha · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $3.0M

    University of California Berkeley Foundation · Berkeley, CA · 2023

    To support an endowment for ukrainian studies at uc berkeley

  • $3.0M

    Common Counsel Foundation · Oakland, CA · 2022

    To support the movement for black lives, a project of the grantee that creates alternative solutions to harmful institutions, policies, and practices for all black communities across the nation

  • $3.0M

    Ideas Innovacion Infraestructuras E Industrializ · 2024

    To support research and analysis of sustainable industrial development, regional integration, and green infrastructure projects in latin america

  • $3.0M

    Open Society Foundation Ggmbh · 2023

    To support non-lobbying activities and programs promoting open, democratic societies around the world

  • $2.9M

    Stefan Batory Foundation · 2024

    To support democracy and open society efforts in central and eastern europe

  • $2.8M

    Open Society Foundation for South Africa · 2022

    To support non-lobbying program activities related to criminal justice, human rights, democracy building, public health, media freedom and access to information

  • $2.8M

    New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2024

    To support the learning & action hub for democracy (d-hub), a fiscally-sponsored project of the grantee, to advance democratic renewal through providing educational and peer-to-peer learning opportunities

  • $2.8M

    Open Society Foundation Ggmbh · 2023

    To support non-lobbying activities and programs promoting open, democratic societies around the world

  • $2.8M

    Freedom House · Washington, DC · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $2.7M

    Nossas Cidades · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.7M

    United Nations Economic Commission for Latin Ameri · 2024

    To support state capacities in latin american and caribbean countries to drive productive development and regional integration, fostering a more productive, inclusive, and sustainable future that contributes to the regi read all
  • $2.7M

    Pef Israel Endowment Funds · New York, NY · 2022

    To bolster democratic values, civic engagement, and volunteerism in the state of israel

  • $2.7M

    Global Witness · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $2.6M

    Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $2.6M

    Open Society Foundation for Albania · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.5M

    Trustees of Boston University · Boston, MA · 2023

    To provide support to the global development policy center's global economic governance initiative

  • $2.5M

    Amalgamated Charitable Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024

    To support global fund for a new economy to build new institutional infrastructure of the new economy field, including civil society, academia, and media that seek to build a global economy that is more inclusive and su read all
  • $2.5M

    Araminta Gug · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.5M

    Ethiopia Education Initiatives · New York City, NY · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.5M

    London School of Economics and Political Science · 2024

    To support the establishment of a new multidisciplinary program on the political economy of cohesive capitalism at the london school of economics and political science

  • $2.5M

    Global Fund for Women · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    To support the building of another world that is affirming of black women and gender expansive people by building a network of black women in philanthropy, conducting research on how black women are supported and provid read all
  • $2.5M

    Way To Rise · Washington, DC · 2023

    To support way to rise's valiente fund in order to build latinx civic, economic, and cultural power

  • $2.5M

    Howard University · Washington, DC · 2022

    To support the center for journalism and democracy, housed at howard university, to train and support the next generation of black investigative journalists in order to broaden the field of journalism, build a more incl read all
  • $2.4M

    Oxfam Mexico Ac · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.4M

    Global Witness · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.4M

    American University of Central Asia · 2023

    To support students from central asian countries with scholarships and provide program support for auca's liberal arts activities, student mobility, and faculty and student research

  • $2.4M

    Global Witness · 2022

    To provide general support

  • $2.4M

    International Media Support (Ims) · 2022

    To provide general support

  • $2.4M

    Caps Unlock · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.4M

    Institute of International Education · New York, NY · 2022

    To allow the grantee to create and manage a travel and learning fund for latin american individuals and organizations to participate in convenings, exchanges, education, global learning, conducting research, and travel

  • $2.3M

    Bard College · Annandaleonhudson, NY · 2023

    To create a robust ecosystem of academic collaboration and advance the integration of teaching, learning, and curricula across osun

  • $2.3M

    C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group · New York, NY · 2022

    To provide general support

  • $2.1M

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2023

    To support the grantees fiscally sponsored program, global center for climate mobility, to educate the public, mobilize support, and advocate in multilateral and international forum about climate-induced mobility and di read all
  • $2.1M

    Central European University · New York, NY · 2024

    To support the establishment of the osun forum on democracy & development, a collaborative research platform structured around five thematic hubs centered on critical themes pertaining to contemporary democratic realiti read all
  • $2.1M

    Tides Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    To support the diaspora alliance, a project of the grantee, in its efforts to promote just, equitable, and democratic societies by combating antisemitism and challenging its politicization

  • $2.1M

    United Nations Conference On Trade and Development · 2023

    To support the grantee's educational, policy, research and analyses on debt and taxation reforms for the benefit of vulnerable communities in borrower countries in the global south

  • $2.1M

    Colorofchangeorg Education Fund · Oakland, CA · 2022

    To provide general support

  • $2.1M

    Democracy Development Foundation · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $2.1M

    El Centro De Estudios Legales Y Sociales (Cels) · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $2.0M

    Bard College · Annandaleonhudson, NY · 2022

    To provide fellowships for newly-arrived afghan professionals and scholars in north america and the uk

  • $2.0M

    Center for American Progress · Washington, DC · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.0M

    Center for Civilians in Conflict · Washington, DC · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.0M

    Institute for Economic Justice · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.0M

    Instituto Cultura Comunicacao E Incidencia · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.0M

    Sustainable Solutions for Africa (Ssa) · 2024

    To conduct research and prepare and disseminate educational information on climate adaptation

  • $2.0M

    Yayasan Celios Pencerah Bangsa · 2024

    To provide general support

  • $2.0M

    Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote · Washington, DC · 2023

    To provide general support

  • $2.0M

    Borealis Philanthropy · Minneapolis, MN · 2023

    To expand the efforts of the communities transforming policing fund to identify, support, and nurture promising community-based police reform campaigns

  • $2.0M

    Carnegie Endowment for International Peace · Washington, DC · 2023

    To provide general support

View all 3,312 grants →

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Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.