The Open Society Institute, operating as the Open Society Foundations (OSF), is one of the world's largest philanthropic organizations dedicated to promoting freedom, democracy, and human rights. Based in New York, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation with a global presence across more than 120 countries and 41 countries of active operation. The foundation employs 438 people and works to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable to their people.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.4B
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$146.9M
-45.4% YoY
Grant Count
559
-17.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$263K
-34.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Open Society Institute reported a distributable amount of $250.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable to their people. The organization seeks to strengthen the rule of law, respect for human rights, protection of minorities, and support for a diversity of opinions. Key focus areas include:
- Promoting tolerance, transparency, and open debate
- Democratically elected governments and civil society that keeps government power in check
- Rule of law and access to justice
- Rights of marginalized communities
- Inclusive democratic space
- Corruption and freedom of information
- Strategic human rights litigation
- Impact investing and incubating new ideas
- Direct engagement with governments and policymakers through advocacy
The organization operates through regional and global programs, including dedicated work in Asia Pacific and the United States, as well as global initiatives.
Grantmaking
The Open Society Foundations gives thousands of grants annually to groups and individuals across more than 120 countries.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $40,000,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Open Society Foundations operates internationally with presence across all continents. Active operations span 41 countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, and Colombia. Specific regional programs include:
- Open Society-Asia Pacific
- Open Society-U.S.
- Global programs working in deep partnership with regional and other Open Society units
- Latin America and the Caribbean
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $5,403,306,305
- Total revenues: $396,477,106
- Total expenses: $295,896,735
- Total liabilities: $704,000,000
- Annual giving: $1.2 billion (2024 expenditures)
- Total giving: $146,889,147
Historical Context:
- Founded in 1979 (philanthropic work began)
- Established as Open Society Institute in 1993
- Tax-exempt status granted November 1994
- Total expenditures since inception: Over $24.2 billion
- Total assets contributed by founder George Soros: Over $32 billion since 1984
Staffing:
- 365 employees (2024)
- 438 total employees across organization
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,403,306,305 | $5,268,526,545 | $5,271,338,522 |
| Revenue | $396,477,106 | $436,327,089 | $564,227,312 |
| Expenses | $295,896,735 | $390,477,522 | $364,425,841 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $279,326,682 | $410,572,916 | $365,184,114 |
| Net Investment Income | $402,148,347 | $449,894,353 | $600,740,003 |
| Distributable Amount | $250,883,754 | $241,425,890 | $256,033,151 |
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
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Open Society Institute
Latin America and the Caribbean Grant Program
OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Open Society Fellowship
OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Soros Justice Fellowships Grant
OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE
Amount
US $100,000 - US $140,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include International Development Economics Associates ($1,250,000), Freedom Voices Network ($930,000), Black Equity Organisation ($750,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| C MOUT NEW YORK, NY | TO ENABLE YOU TO PURSUE A MASTERS DEGREE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES OR HUMANITIES, AND TO APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS GAINED IN YOUR ROLE AS A CIVIL SOCIETY LEADER TO BOLSTER POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY OR REGION | $394 |
| N MOHAMED AHMED SHAFIK BAHGAT NEW YORK, NY | TO ENABLE YOU TO PURSUE A MASTERS DEGREE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES OR HUMANITIES, AND TO APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS GAINED IN YOUR ROLE AS A CIVIL SOCIETY LEADER TO BOLSTER POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY OR REGION | $13 |
| T EZZIDIN NEW YORK, NY | THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO ALLOW YOU TO PURSUE A GRADUATE DEGREE. | $582 |
| M MARI-NARVAEZ NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT A RESEARCH, ORGANIZING AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PROJECT TO REDUCE POLICE VIOLENCE IN PUERTO RICO | $365 |
| C OMUHO NEW YORK, NY | TO OBTAIN AN LLM | $805 |
| W TEKLETSADIK NEW YORK, NY | TO OBTAIN AN LLM | $1,418 |
| T MASENYETSE NEW YORK, NY | TO OBTAIN AN LLM | $11,158 |
| A TORRES CARRASQUILLO NEW YORK, NY | TO CREATE AN ANTI-VIOLENCE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS IN PUERTO RICO | $1,192 |
| N GOCHIASHVILI NEW YORK, NY | TO OBTAIN AN LLM | $706 |
| C ANDRE OLIVERAS RODRIGUEZ NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT BARRIOIZATION, A PROJECT TO REVITALIZE THE URBAN CENTER OF MANAT AND ORGANIZE ITS SURROUNDING COASTAL AREAS--PARTICULARLY FOCUSING ON THE LEADERSHIP OF LGBTQI PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President: Binaifer Nowrojee (appointed June 2024)
- Board Chair: Alex Soros
- Founder: George Soros, who since 1984 has contributed over $32 billion to the organization
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEXANDER SOROS | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| MAIJA ARBOLINO | TREASURER/CFO | 40 | $445,562 |
| GREG TAYLOR | GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF OPS (FORMER) | — | — |
| LEONARD BENARDO | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $773,706 |
| MARK MALLOCH-BROWN | TRUSTEE & PRESIDENT (THRU 3/31/2024) | 10 | $322,519 |
| BINAIFER NOWROJEE | PRESIDENT (AS OF 4/1/2024) | 40 | $881,219 |
| NICOLE WILETT | CHIEF OF STAFF (THRU 1/31/2024) | 40 | $389,484 |
| LAURA SILBER | TRUSTEE (AS OF 12/19/2024) | 40 | $602,522 |
| PEDRO ABRAMOVAY | VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAMS | 5 | — |
| SANDRA BREKA | VP AND COO | 5 | — |
| SAMANTHA STOKES-BAYDUR | CHIEF PEOPLE AND CULTURE OFFICER | 40 | $705,100 |
| CATHERINE LIVINGSTON | GEN COUNSEL, SECRETARY (THRU 1/17/24) | 40 | $53,916 |
| DEBBIE FINE | GEN COUNSEL, SECRETARY (AS OF 1/17/24) | 40 | $530,457 |
| SMITA SINGH | CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER (FORMER) | — | $24,992 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Open Society Foundations has undertaken significant strategic transformation, shifting from standing programs to time-bound goals organized around six regional strategies and one global strategy. This new model emphasizes "strategic opportunism" with both long-term "patient capital" approaches and flexible opportunities.
Open Society Foundations Announce Justice Rising AwardsRecent announcements include:
Justice Rising Awards program
Open Society Foundations Announce Justice Rising AwardsSmall Donor Development and Diversification Grant initiative
Open Society Institute Announces Small Donor Development and ...$400 million commitment to support economic and climate prosperity
Open Society Foundations to Commit $400 Million to Support Economic and ClimateMulti-year funding for African Cultural Heritage Fellowship through the Africa Institute
Open Society Grant: The Africa Institute Receives Major Multi-Year FundingSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Open Society Institute fund?
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable to their people. The organization seeks to strengthen the rule of law, respect for human rights, protection of minorities, and support for a diversity of opinions. Key focus areas include: • Promoting tolerance, transparency, and open debate • Democratically elected governments and civil society that keeps government power in check • Rule of law and access to justice • Rights of margin…
How do I apply for a grant from Open Society Institute?
The Open Society Foundations gives thousands of grants annually to groups and individuals across more than 120 countries. **Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $1,000 to $40,000,000 • Typical awards: $13–$45,000,000 • Highly competitive funding environment • Decision timelines vary by program **Recent Grant Activity:** Notable recent grants include substantial support to Central European University, with grants of $38,025,318 and $31,983,066 in 2024. **Active Programs:** • Soros Justice Fel…
Where does Open Society Institute make grants?
The Open Society Foundations operates internationally with presence across all continents. Active operations span 41 countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, and Colombia. Specific regional programs include: • Open Society-Asia Pacific • Open Society-U.S. • Global programs working in deep partnership with regional and other Open Society units • Latin America and the Caribbean
What size grants does Open Society Institute award?
In 2024, Open Society Institute awarded 559 grants totaling $146.9M — an average of about $263K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Open Society Institute required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Open Society Institute reported a distributable amount of $250.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Open Society Institute's EIN?
Open Society Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7029285. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Open Society Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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