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research dossier

THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133956444 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE Q300 · International Affairs · Very Large (>$50M) · ceu.edu
revenue
$83.8M
expenses
$90.2M
net assets
$415.8M
employees
0
volunteers
18
program ratio
100%
mission · from form 990

CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY IS AN INSTITUTION OF ADVANCED RESEARCH AND TEACHING, DEDICATED TO SOCIALLY AND MORALLY RESPONSIBLE INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY. HAVING LAUNCHED A NEW UNDERGRADUATE OFFER IN 2020, CEU'S DISTINCTIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM BUILDS ON THE RESEARCH TRADITION OF THE GREAT AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES; ON THE MOST VALUABLE CENTRAL EUROPEAN INTELLECTUAL TRADITIONS; ON THE INTERNATIONAL DIVERSITY OF ITS FACULTY AND STUDENTS; ON ITS COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL SERVICE; AND ON ITS OWN HISTORY OF ACADEMIC AND POLICY ACHIEVEMENTS IN TRANSFORMING THE CLOSED COMMUNIST INHERITANCE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Central European University (CEU) is a graduate-level research and teaching institution focused on advanced scholarship in the social sciences, humanities, and law, with a commitment to open society values, democracy, and critical inquiry. It operates campuses in Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary, serving a diverse international community of students, faculty, and researchers. CEU supports interdisciplinary research through 11 specialized centers and offers academic programs building on Central European intellectual traditions and American-style research education.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.86M
    THE VERA AND DONALD BLINKEN OPEN SOCIETY ARCHIVES (OSA) AT CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY IS A COMPLEX ARCHIVAL INSTITUTION. OSA IS BOTH A REPOSITORY OF IMPORTANT COLLECTIONS, PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF THE COLD WAR AND GRAVE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, AND A LABORATORY OF ARCHIVAL EXPERIMENTS ON NEW WAYS OF ASSESSING, CONTEXTUALIZING, PRESENTING, AND MAKING USE OF ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS. OSA IS A RESEARCH INSTITUTE DEALING WITH ARCHIVAL, TAXONOMICAL, INFORMATIONAL AND HISTORICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO ITS HOLDINGS, AND ALSO REFLECTING ON THE ROLE, OBLIGATIONS, AND LIMITS (AS WELL AS ON OVERCOMING THESE) OF REPOSITORIES THAT PRESERVE IMPORTANT HISTORICAL SOURCES. OSA, ITS HOLDINGS, AND THE RESEARCH BASED ON OUR COLLECTIONS, ARE THE BASIS OF AN EXPANDING TEACHING PROGRAM. OSA RECEIVES STUDENTS FROM THE CEU AND INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE GLOBE, WHO COME HERE TO STUDY THE ROLE AND USE OF ARCHIVAL EVIDENCE, THE CHANGING FUNCTIONS OF THE ARCHIVES, HOW TO BUILD TRUST IN NEW TYPES OF ARCHIVAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE SPECIAL METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF STUDYING THE SOURCES OF THE FANTASIES ON WHICH THE COLD WAR WAS CONSTRUCTED. OSA IS AN ARCHIVE OF THE COPY, MEANING THAT WE ARE PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN THE CONTENT, RATHER THAN THE MATERIALITY OF OUR DOCUMENTS; WE ACTIVELY SEEK OUTNON-TRADITIONAL DOCUMENTS MATERIAL PREVIOUSLY MARGINALIZED BASED ON ITS CONTENT, SOCIAL ORIGIN, OR FORM. OSA IS ALSO "AN ARCHIVE OF LAST RESORT," HELPING IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS WHOSE HOLDINGS ARE IN DANGER FOR ORGANIZATIONAL, IDEOLOGICAL OR POLITICAL REASONS, TO FIND A SECURE AND PROFESSIONAL ARCHIVE FOR THEIR ENDANGERED DOCUMENTS. ONE OF OSA'S AIMS IS TO BROADEN ACCESS TO PRIMARY SOURCES BY OVERCOMING TECHNICAL, LEGAL, GEOGRAPHIC, AND SOCIO-CULTURAL BARRIERS.
  2. #2 $13.06M
    THROUGH ITS 11 RESEARCH CENTERS, CEU PROMOTES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE HIGH-QUALITY RESEARCH CAN TAKE PLACE, WHERE READINESS FOR INTELLECTUAL RISK-TAKING AND FOR RADICAL RETHINKING OF FOUNDATIONS IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED, AND WHERE VALUES OF OPEN SOCIETY, DEMOCRACY AND CRITICAL, REFLECTIVE THINKING ARE CULTIVATED. CEU RESEARCH CENTERS COMPLEMENT RESEARCH AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES IN CEU DEPARTMENTS, ENHANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS AMONG DIFFERENT ACADEMIC AREAS AND INTERFACING ACADEMIC AND POLICY RELEVANT ACTIVITIES. THE CENTERS SUPPORT CEU'S MISSION BY RAISING THE UNIVERSITY'S INTERNATIONAL VISIBILITY AND DEEPENING ITS REGIONAL EMBEDDEDNESS. BUILDING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESEARCH INSTITUTES, CORPORATIONS, NGOS AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, CEU RESEARCH CENTERS OPERATE LARGE-SCALE RESEARCH PROJECTS, ORGANIZE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC EVENTS, WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES, AS WELL AS OFFER FELLOWSHIPS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE RESEARCH AREAS. THE RESEARCH CENTERS ARE: CENTER FOR COGNITIVE COMPUTATION, CENTER FOR EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES, CENTER FOR ETHICS AND LAW IN BIOMEDICINE, CENTER FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES, COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY, VERA AND DONALD BLINKEN OPEN SOCIETY ARCHIVES, PASTS INC., SHATTUCK CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL MIND CENTER, CEU DEMOCRACY INSTITUTE.
named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

CEU Research Centers
Network of 11 interdisciplinary research centers including the Center for Ethics and Law in Biomedicine, Shattuck Center for Human Rights, and CEU Democracy Institute, conducting policy-relevant research and hosting public events, fellowships, and conferences.
Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives (OSA)
Archival institution preserving Cold War history and human rights violations, functioning as a research laboratory and teaching resource on archival practices and access to historical evidence.
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Research and Scholarly Fellowship Support 2 activities
    • Support displaced scholars and inclusive education access
      Supports displaced Ukrainian scholars through the Invisible University for Ukraine initiative and runs Access Programs that create pathways into higher education for underrepresented youth and develop critical thinking skills among adults from underprivileged communities in Vienna and Austria.
    • Train PhD students in research methods
      Trains PhD candidates in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and supports them in developing original, independent research projects in alignment with CEU’s emphasis on critical inquiry and ethical scholarship.
  • Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
    • Advance academic writing and professional development
      Provides academic writing support to graduate students through the Center for Academic Writing, recognized as a "Writing Program of Excellence," and offers non-degree and micro-credential programs for professionals and leaders via the Educational Outreach Office in collaboration with faculty and external partners.
  • Higher Education Degree Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs
      Offers 3 bachelor's, 35 master's, and 11 doctoral degree programs across 14 academic departments in social sciences, humanities, law, data science, political science, and public policy, taught in English at campuses in Vienna and Budapest.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
    • Fund student scholarships and research activities
      Provides merit-based grants for master’s and doctoral students, including funding for study abroad (3–12 months), research and fieldwork (up to 5,200 EUR), conference travel, and participation in Summer and Winter Schools for doctoral students who have passed comprehensive exams.
  • Architecture and Design Public Education Programs 1 activity
    • Organize public engagement and cultural programming
      Hosts public lectures, educational programs, cultural events, exhibitions (including a traveling exhibition on CEU’s history), and seasonal schools such as the CEU Summer University, promoting civic dialogue and intellectual exchange in Vienna and Budapest.
  • Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
    • Promote archival access and preservation through Blinken OSA Archivum
      Collects, preserves, and provides open access to historical materials related to Cold War history, international human rights violations, and marginalized voices; serves as an archive of last resort for endangered documents and develops digital tools to contextualize archival content. Hosts students and researchers from CEU and global institutions for teaching and research based on its collections.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Promote sustainability and environmental stewardship
      Organizes field trips to Donau-Auen National Park and urban farms, and launched a Sustainability Hub to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices among students and the broader CEU community.
  • Student Housing and Residential Services 1 activity
    • Provide student support and campus life services
      Operates medical and psychological counseling services, child-friendly facilities (including baby rooms and kid-friendly offices), diaper-changing stations, dining facilities (Lia Canteen, Central Canteen, Brunch Bistro), event spaces, and supports over 30 student clubs with funding and resources. Hosts orientation programs for incoming students.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Conduct interdisciplinary research through dedicated centers and institutes
      Operates 11 research centers including the CEU Democracy Institute, CEU Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), Center for Ethics and Law in Biomedicine (CELAB), and Blinken Open Society Archives, conducting large-scale research projects, hosting fellowships, and organizing conferences and workshops on topics such as democracy, disinformation, and human rights.
    • Support experiential and community-engaged learning
      Implements capstone projects, internships, Applied Policy Projects, Policy Lab, KIKO-lab, Community Engagement Track, Civic Engagement Fellowships, Summer Schools, and third-party funded collaborations with civil society partners to integrate practice-oriented learning into academic training.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$83.80M
Contributions & grants$81.02M97%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2.78M3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$90.24M
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$89.48M
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$432.03M
Cash$26.48M
Investments$5.02M
Liabilities$16.23M
Net assets$415.80M
Liquid reserves4.2 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +318.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

board members · 18
  • ALEXANDER SOROS — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREAS TREICHL — TRUSTEE
  • ANTONIO FOGLIA — TRUSTEE
  • ATTILA CHIKAN — TRUSTEE
  • BINAIFER NOWROJEE- ON 624 — TRUSTEE
  • CAROL CRIST — TRUSTEE
  • CORNELIA WOLL- ON 624 — TRUSTEE
  • E HANAPPI-EGGER-OFF 624 — TRUSTEE
  • ELISE VAN OSS — ASST. SECRETARY
  • GEOFFREY W SMITH — CHAIRMAN, TRUSTEE
  • GEORGE SOROS — HONORARY CHAIR, TRUSTEE
  • GORDON RAUSSER — TRUSTEE
  • LEONARD BENARDO — TRUSTEE
  • MARK MALLOCH-BROWN- OFF 524 — TRUSTEE
  • PETER BALDWIN — TRUSTEE
  • PETER NADOSY — TRUSTEE
  • ROBERT PRICHARD- OFF 624 — TRUSTEE
  • SHALINI RANDERIA — TRUSTEE (EX-OFFICIO)
relationships · 30

Who they work with

  • Academic Cooperation and Research Support Office Partner — Provides administrative and grant support for CEU research activities.
  • Blinken OSA Archivum Partner — Hosts the Blinken OSA Archivum at its Arany János Street location in Budapest.
  • Blinken Open Society Archives Partner — Official archive of CEU responsible for developing the 35th anniversary traveling exhibition and preserving institutional and regional historical materials.
  • Budapest Partner — Local community with which CEU engages through open programming and public contributions.
  • BudapestGO Partner — Public transportation service used by CEU Budapest site visitors and commuters.
  • CEU Center for Ethics and Law in Biomedicine (CELAB) Partner — Research partner addressing ethical and legal challenges in biomedicine and health policy.
  • CEU Democracy Institute Partner — Non-degree and research arm based in Budapest.
  • CEU Democracy Institute Partner — Research and civic engagement partner in Budapest focused on democratic governance and public policy.
  • CEU Institute for Advanced Study Partner — Research partner supporting advanced interdisciplinary scholarship in the humanities and social sciences.
  • CEU Summer University Partner — Non-degree and research arm based in Budapest.
  • CIVICA Network — CEU collaborates with CIVICA on Summer Schools and civic engagement initiatives.
  • CIVICA Network — Member of the CIVICA alliance of European social science universities.
  • CIVICA - The European University of Social Sciences Network — Member of CIVICA, a consortium of ten leading European higher education institutions focused on addressing global societal challenges.
  • Christophe Heintz Partner — Supervised Szegofi’s dissertation research on misinformation and conspiracy theories.
  • Civic Engagement, Arts and Culture Unit Partner — Unit organizing public educational and cultural programming in Budapest.
  • Donau-Auen National Park Partner — Collaborates on field trips for students and CEU community members focused on environmental sustainability.
  • European Association for Gender Research, Education and Documentation (ATGENDER) Partner — Collaborates with ATGENDER on gender research, education, and documentation initiatives.
  • European Commission Government — Recipient of Erasmus+ grant funding administered by the European Commission.
  • Hungarian Institute of International Affairs Partner — Works with the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, Hungary's largest foreign policy think tank, on policy-relevant research.
  • Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA) Partner — Partnered through the Center for European Neighborhood Studies to advance Hungary's transition to democracy.
  • Institute for Advanced Study Partner — Non-degree and research arm based in Budapest.
  • Leiden University Partner — CEU provides scholarships for students to participate in graduate degree programs at Leiden University.
  • Open Society Foundations Government — Founding affiliate and funder of CEU, linked through shared mission of promoting open society ideals.
  • Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty Partner — Historical content partner whose archival materials are preserved and exhibited by CEU through the Blinken Open Society Archives.
  • Student Union Assembly (SUA) Partner — Collaborates with the Student Union Assembly to ensure student representation in governance and management and to fund student club activities.
  • Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives Partner — Non-degree and research arm based in Budapest.
  • Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives Partner — Operates as a research and archival unit within Central European University, managing specialized collections and educational programs.
  • Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archivum Partner — Archival and research partner preserving historical records related to open societies and human rights.
  • Vienna Partner — Local community with which CEU engages through open programming and public contributions.
  • Wiener Linien Partner — Public transportation provider serving the CEU Vienna campus.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Epistemic Vigilance and Truth Discernment
    methodology: epistemic_vigilance_support
    By restructuring information environments and implementing source-rating systems, the university supports individuals’ cognitive capacities to discern truth from misinformation, because reliable knowledge practices are essential for democratic participation and resistance to manipulation.
  • Interdisciplinary and Comparative Scholarship
    methodology: interdisciplinary_comparative_approach
    By integrating knowledge across disciplines and employing comparative analysis, the university enables students and researchers to address complex global social, political, and economic challenges more effectively, because multifaceted problems require diverse intellectual frameworks and contextual awareness.
  • Open Society and Academic Sanctuary
    methodology: open_society
    By protecting academic freedom and providing educational opportunities for displaced scholars, the university advances open society values and democratic resilience, because sustaining critical inquiry under threat preserves intellectual diversity and strengthens global democratic discourse.
  • Socially Engaged and Participatory Research
    methodology: community-based_participatory_research
    By partnering with civil society organizations, NGOs, and local communities in co-creating research and educational projects, the university strengthens the relevance and impact of academic work, because embedding community needs and lived experience into scholarship increases its societal value and real-world applicability.