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FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE OPEN SOCIETY

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 263753801 · Form 990PF · FY2024 · NTEE T22 · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Very Large (>$50M)
revenue
$935.0M
expenses
$39.4M
net assets
$10.6B
employees
profile · synthesized from sources

The Foundation to Promote Open Society is a New York-based grantmaking foundation that supports democratic, open societies globally. It provides general and program-specific funding to nonprofit organizations, universities, and civil society groups working in human rights, education, and climate policy. The foundation operates primarily by making large-scale grants to affiliated and independent organizations worldwide.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

General Support Grants
Unrestricted funding provided to partner organizations including universities, civil society groups, and international foundations
Program-Related Investments
Supports economic development and social impact initiatives through the Soros Economic Development Fund
Support for Open Societies
Provides funding to organizations promoting democratic governance, human rights, and civic engagement worldwide
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Human Rights Advocacy Funding 5 activities
    • Funding non-lobbying programs that promote open, democratic societies globally
      Provides grants to support non-lobbying activities and programs aimed at advancing open and democratic societies worldwide.
    • Providing general support funding to Amnesty International Limited
      Grants unrestricted funds to Amnesty International Limited to support its global human rights advocacy and operations.
    • Providing general support funding to Civil Society Foundation
      Supports the Civil Society Foundation with general operating funds to promote civic engagement and democratic governance.
    • Providing general support funding to Open Society Foundation for Albania
      Offers unrestricted grants to the Open Society Foundation for Albania to strengthen civil society and democratic institutions in Albania.
    • Providing general support funding to Roma Foundation for Europe
      Offers unrestricted financial support to the Roma Foundation for Europe to advance Roma rights and inclusion across Europe.
  • University-Specific Endowment and Program Funding 3 activities
    • Funding research, outreach, and operating costs for Central European University in Budapest
      Supports the academic and operational activities of Central European University’s Budapest-based units during the 2024/25 academic year through targeted grant funding.
    • Providing general support funding to Bard College
      Awards unrestricted grants to Bard College to support its educational and institutional operations.
    • Providing general support funding to Institute for Human Sciences
      Provides flexible funding to the Institute for Human Sciences to support its research and scholarly programs in the humanities and social sciences.
  • Climate Change Research and Advocacy Funding 1 activity
    • Providing general support funding to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
      Provides unrestricted financial support to the UNFCCC to assist in its coordination and implementation of international climate change agreements.
  • Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
    • Supporting the Fokal Designated Fund via The Boston Foundation
      Provides grant funding to The Boston Foundation specifically designated for the Fokal Designated Fund, which supports civil society initiatives in Haiti.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Funding program-related investments of the Soros Economic Development Fund
      Finances program-related investment activities carried out by the Soros Economic Development Fund as part of its mission to support economic development in underserved regions.
financials · form 990PF · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$935.04M
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue
Investment income$499K0%
Other revenue$926.15M
expenses
Total expenses$39.43M
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$481.53M
balance sheet
Total assets$10.84B
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$10.60B
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +10.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 3
  • ALEXANDER SOROS — DIRECTOR
  • ANDREA E SOROS — DIRECTOR
  • GEORGE SOROS — DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN
relationships · 11

Who they work with

  • AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Partner — Receives general support funding.
  • BARD COLLEGE Partner — Receives general support funding.
  • CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY Partner — Receives funding for research, outreach, and operating costs of its Budapest-based units.
  • CIVIL SOCIETY FOUNDATION Partner — Receives general support funding.
  • INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN SCIENCES Partner — Receives general support funding.
  • OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION FOR ALBANIA Partner — Receives general support funding.
  • OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION LONDON Partner — Receives funding to support non-lobbying activities promoting open, democratic societies globally.
  • ROMA FOUNDATION FOR EUROPE Partner — Receives general support funding.
  • SOROS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND Partner — Receives funding to support program-related investment activities.
  • THE BOSTON FOUNDATION Partner — Receives funding to support the Fokal Designated Fund.
  • UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHA Government — Receives general support funding.
strategies · 2

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.

  • Academic Freedom Protection in Restrictive Contexts
    methodology: academic_freedom_defense
    By supporting university operations and research in contested environments, we sustain open societies because intellectual discourse acts as a foundational pillar for democratic resilience and long-term systemic change.
  • Non-Lobbying Democratic Governance Support
    methodology: non_lobbying_grantmaking
    By funding non-lobbying initiatives, we advance open and democratic societies because grassroots, non-partisan programs are more sustainable and less vulnerable to political backlash in restrictive contexts.