Foundation to Promote Open Society

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 26-3753801 Website

The Foundation to Promote Open Society is a private grantmaking foundation based in New York, NY. Established in 2008 in Delaware and New York, it is part of the Open Society Foundations network, an umbrella organization with offices and foundations located throughout the world. The foundation works to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$10.8B

+3.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$481.5M

-36.6% YoY

Grant Count

738

-45.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$652K

+15.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Foundation to Promote Open Society reported a distributable amount of $521.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation provides funding for scholarships and supports a wide range of global initiatives. Primary funding focus areas include:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services
COVID-19 Disaster Preparedness and Relief
Higher Education
Human Rights and Justice
Roma Rights and Advocacy

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are by invitation only.

Grant Range

$5,000 to $44.9 million

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds initiatives globally across multiple regions including:

United States (particularly New York, District of Columbia, and California)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Europe and Central Asia
Africa
Asia Pacific
Middle East and North Africa

Grant Distribution by State

New York $41.0M (38%)

District of Columbia $31.8M (29%)

California $11.3M (10%)

Georgia $6.5M (6%)

Minnesota $6.0M (5%)

Massachusetts $5.4M (5%)

North Carolina $2.2M (2%)

Texas $2.1M (2%)

+38 more states

Cities

AlamedaAlbuquerqueAlexandriaAmherstAmityvilleAnchorageAnn ArborAnnandaleonhudsonAnnapolisArlingtonAshburnAshevilleAthensAtlantaAugustaAustinBaltimoreBasaltBaysideBearsville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $10.8 billion
Total Revenue: $935 million
Total Expenses: $461 million
Total Liabilities: $240 million
Annual Giving Rate: Approximately 7.2% of assets

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$10,843,807,551	$10,502,606,362	$10,595,087,232
Revenue	$935,043,439	$842,821,637	$677,301,845
Expenses	$460,769,902	$874,683,497	$478,664,220
Qualifying Distributions	$503,984,141	$775,088,667	$491,259,531
Net Investment Income	$1,467,579,344	$1,304,480,048	$1,245,729,787
Distributable Amount	$521,764,580	$510,031,453	$529,722,245

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Institute for Human Sciences ($3,810,000), Civil Society Foundation ($3,209,940), Democracy Development Foundation ($1,566,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ASSOCIACAO DIREITOS HUMANOS EM REDE	TO SUPPORT GRANTEE'S CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES	$1,000,000
INSTITUTO PAPO RETO	TO SUPPORT COLETIVO PAPO RETO'S PROGRAM WORK RELATED TO HARM REDUCTION, DRUG POLICY, AND COMMUNITY SAFETY	$50,000
OPEN SOCIETY GEORGIA FOUNDATION	TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR NON-LOBBYING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING EMPOWERMENT OF ETHNIC MINORITIES, SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA, ENGAGING EU INSTITUTIONS FOR BETTER PROTECTION OF MINORITY RIGHTS, INCREASE RESILIENCE AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERS ABILITIES TO DOCUMENT AND EXPOSE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND ABUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICE BY THE AUTHORITIES, FIGHT FOR SOCIOECONOMIC RIGHTS, BUILDING DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL SYSTEM, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM	$400,594
CULTURE RESOURCE -- AL MAWRED AL THAQAFY	TO PROVIDE GENERAL SUPPORT	$500,000
FUNDACION HOJA BLANCA	TO PROVIDE GENERAL SUPPORT	$100,000
OPEN SOCIETY GEORGIA FOUNDATION	TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR NON-LOBBYING PROGRAMMATIC AND OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES	$368,971
MEDIA COUNCIL OF KENYA	TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE GRANTEES WORK WITH MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, I.E. COMMUNITY MEDIA, JOURNALISTS, EDITORS AND MEDIA PROFESSIONAL GROUPS, TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CAPACITY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES IN KENYA	$25,000
TANZANIA TRANS INITIATIVE (TTI)	TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO EMPOWER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES	$25,000
INSTITUTO MAKARAPY	TO PROVIDE GENERAL SUPPORT	$500,000
THE PROJECT SYNDICATE OPS	TO PROVIDE GENERAL SUPPORT	$750,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

George Soros – Founder, Director, and Chairman
Maija Arbolino – Principal Officer
Andrea Soros Colombel – Director
Alexander Soros – Director

Directors and officers, including George Soros, do not receive compensation for their roles.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
GEORGE SOROS	DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN	2	—
ANDREA E SOROS	DIRECTOR	2	—
ALEXANDER SOROS	DIRECTOR	2	—
MAIJA ARBOLINO	TREASURER	2	—
CATHERINE LIVINGSTON	SECRETARY (THRU 1/17/24)	2	—
DEBBIE FINE	SECRETARY (AS OF 1/17/24)	2	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation continues active grantmaking across its priority areas. Recent grant announcements include support for the Kofi Annan Foundation and various initiatives through its Western Balkans office, including grants supporting accountable governance and the Open Government Partnership.

Skopje Office - Open Society Foundations Western Balkans

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Foundation to Promote Open Society fund?

The foundation provides funding for scholarships and supports a wide range of global initiatives. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • COVID-19 Disaster Preparedness and Relief • Higher Education • Human Rights and Justice • Roma Rights and Advocacy

How do I apply for a grant from Foundation to Promote Open Society?

**Grant Activity:** • Awards approximately $481–$753 million annually • Typical grant range: $5,000 to $44.9 million • Median grant size: $250,000 • Made 1,330 grants in 2023 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Soros Economic Development Fund: $25,000,000 (Program Related Investment Activities) • Bard College Berlin: $20,000,000 (General Support) • The Boston Foundation: $20,000,000 (Fokal Designated Fund support) **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants …

Where does Foundation to Promote Open Society make grants?

The foundation funds initiatives globally across multiple regions including: • United States (particularly New York, District of Columbia, and California) • Latin America and the Caribbean • Europe and Central Asia • Africa • Asia Pacific • Middle East and North Africa

What size grants does Foundation to Promote Open Society award?

In 2024, Foundation to Promote Open Society awarded 738 grants totaling $481.5M — an average of about $652K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Foundation to Promote Open Society required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Foundation to Promote Open Society reported a distributable amount of $521.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Foundation to Promote Open Society's EIN?

Foundation to Promote Open Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3753801. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.