Open Society Action Fund Inc logo

Open Society Action Fund Inc

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 52-2028955 Website

Open Society Action Fund (OSAF), formerly known as Open Society Policy Center (OSPC), is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization based in New York, NY. Established in 1997, the organization operates as a lobbying and advocacy group that promotes social justice and human rights through domestic and foreign policy advocacy, coalition-building, and grantmaking.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$13.6M

-74.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$159.6M

-14.4% YoY

Grant Count

203

-11.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$786K

-3.0% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission: To promote social justice and human rights through domestic and foreign policy advocacy.

Domestic Policy Areas: The organization focuses on a comprehensive range of domestic policy issues including:

  • Democracy defense and election integrity
  • Voting rights, census, and redistricting
  • Economic security and workers' rights
  • Immigration and civil rights
  • Racial justice and gender justice
  • LGBTQ rights and reproductive freedom
  • Courts accountability and ethics reform
  • Combating misinformation and disinformation
  • Technology and civil rights
  • Community safety
  • Climate and environmental justice
  • Corporate accountability
  • Government accountability and transparency
  • Judicial nominations
  • Criminal justice reform
  • National security and civil rights
  • Housing and health equity
  • Education

International Policy Areas: The organization also works on global policy areas including drug policy, health policy, and regional focus areas such as Africa, Asia, Europe, and Eurasia.

Grantmaking

Open Society Action Fund makes grants to advance its policy goals. Typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $18,055,000. The organization distributes funds to section 501(c)(3) charities, section 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, and other entities for general support or specific projects aligned with its mission.

Ready to take the next step with Open Society Action Fund Inc?

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The organization funds work in multiple geographic areas including the District of Columbia, New York, and California, with both domestic and international policy focus areas.

Grant Distribution by State

42states
+34 more states

Cities

AlamedaAlbanyAlbuquerqueAlexandriaAmherstAmityvilleAnnandaleonhudsonArcadiaAshlandAtlantaAustinBakersfieldBaltimoreBaton RougeBeavertonBellevueBerkeleyBostonBoulderBrooklyn

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

  • Total revenues: $257,005,378
  • Total expenses: $246,246,513
  • Total assets: $52,865,786
  • Total giving: $170,802,412

As of 2022:

  • Total assets: $13,608,256

The organization maintains significant financial capacity for its advocacy and grantmaking activities.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$71M$141M$212M$283M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$13,608,256$52,865,786$36,100,367
Revenue$157,180,674$257,005,378$240,000,000
Expenses$178,663,592$246,246,513$205,511,896
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$80,674$5,378
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$47M$93M$140M$186M234 grants2020225 grants2021149 grants2022230 grants2023203 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

AMERICA VOTES$9.0MAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES…$5.6MACCELERATE ACTION INC$4.2MBLACK PROGRESSIVE ACTION…$2.5MARIZONA FOR ABORTION ACC…$2.0MDELIVER THE AMERICAN DREAM$1.9MCOLOROFCHANGEORG$1.4MALIANZA FOR PROGRESS$1.0MCITIZENS NOT POLITICIANS$1.0MCOLORADANS FOR PROTECTIN…$1.0M

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

9<$50K17$50–100K77$100–250K68$250–500K34$500K–1M36$1–5M9$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include America Votes ($9,000,000), American Civil Liberties Union Inc ($5,560,000), Accelerate Action Inc ($4,200,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ACCELERATE ACTION INC SALT LAKE CITY, UTTO SUPPORT NONPARTISAN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT$4,200,000
ADVANCE NORTH CAROLINA INC RALEIGH, NCTO SUPPORT THE GRANTEE'S SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVITIES$375,000
ADVANCEMENT PROJECT ACTION FUND WASHINGTON, DCTO SUPPORT POLICY ADVOCACY ON RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUES$100,000
ALIANZA FOR PROGRESS ORLANDO, FLTO SUPPORT THE GRANTEES SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVITIES$1,000,000
ALL VOTING IS LOCAL ACTION WASHINGTON, DCTO SUPPORT NONPARTISAN ADVOCACY FOR STATE AND LOCAL PRO-VOTER LEGISLATION AND POLICIES$350,000
AMERICA VOTES WASHINGTON, DCTO SUPPORT THE GRANTEE'S SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVITIES$800,000
AMERICA VOTES WASHINGTON, DCTO SUPPORT NONPARTISAN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT$9,000,000
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION INC NEW YORK, NYTO SUPPORT THE GRANTEE'S SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVITIES$5,560,000
AMERICANS FOR CONTRACEPTION WASHINGTON, DCTO SUPPORT POLICY ADVOCACY ON ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION$500,000
AMERICA'S VOICE WASHINGTON, DCTO SUPPORT PRO-IMMIGRATION POLICY ADVOCACY EFFORTS$500,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Laleh Ispahani - Executive Director and CEO/Board Member

Board Members:

  • Gara LaMarche - President, Democracy Alliance
  • Andrea Soros Colombel - Founder and President of Trace Foundation
  • Alex Soros - Alexander Soros Foundation

Related Leadership:

  • Tom Perriello - Director, Center for American Progress Action Fund (listed as Executive Director in one source)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

LALEH ISPAHANIDIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$152KMICAELA FERNANDEZ AL…DEPUTY DIRECTOR$89KMAIJA ARBOLINOTREASURER$5KRUTH NOEMI COLONDIR. OF OPS & CULT. (UNTIL 1…$3KDEBBIE FINESECRETARY$308

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
GARA LAMARCHEDIRECTOR0.02
ALEXANDER SOROSDIRECTOR0.02
ANDREA E SOROSDIRECTOR0.02
LALEH ISPAHANIDIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR13.74$151,654
DEBBIE FINESECRETARY0.02$308
MAIJA ARBOLINOTREASURER0.47$5,333
MICAELA FERNANDEZ ALLENDEPUTY DIRECTOR12.21$89,477
RUTH NOEMI COLONDIR. OF OPS & CULT. (UNTIL 12/31/24)0.54$3,329

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Open Society Action Fund Inc fund?

**Mission:** To promote social justice and human rights through domestic and foreign policy advocacy. **Domestic Policy Areas:** The organization focuses on a comprehensive range of domestic policy issues including: • Democracy defense and election integrity • Voting rights, census, and redistricting • Economic security and workers' rights • Immigration and civil rights • Racial justice and gender justice • LGBTQ rights and reproductive freedom • Courts accountability and ethics reform • Combat…

How do I apply for a grant from Open Society Action Fund Inc?

Open Society Action Fund makes grants to advance its policy goals. Typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $18,055,000. The organization distributes funds to section 501(c)(3) charities, section 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, and other entities for general support or specific projects aligned with its mission. Recent grantmaking activity includes donations to organizations such as America Votes ($12,900,000).

Where does Open Society Action Fund Inc make grants?

The organization funds work in multiple geographic areas including the District of Columbia, New York, and California, with both domestic and international policy focus areas.

What size grants does Open Society Action Fund Inc award?

In 2024, Open Society Action Fund Inc awarded 203 grants totaling $159.6M — an average of about $786K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Open Society Action Fund Inc's EIN?

Open Society Action Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2028955. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Open Society Action Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

What could you do with Open Society Action Fund Inc on Grantable?

  • Assess strategic fit with your organization
  • Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
  • Find open RFPs from this funder
  • Monitor for new funding opportunities

Go from researching Open Society Action Fund Inc to a real strategy.

Plan your approach