Updated:
The Open Society Foundations
The Open Society Foundations traces its origins to 1993 when George Soros created the network as the primary philanthropic vehicle for his wealth.
The Open Society Foundations
The Open Society Foundations traces its origins to 1993 when George Soros created the network as the primary philanthropic vehicle for his wealth. Alexander Soros now chairs the board while his sister Andrea Soros Colombel serves as a director. The structure includes the Foundation to Promote Open Society as the main grantmaking entity and the Open Society Institute as the operating foundation. Capital deploys across grants, advocacy, and impact investments. The Soros Economic Development Fund holds positions in Allied Climate Partners, Delta40, EcoEnterprises, Global Access Health, and SP Ventures AgVentures III. Public equity holdings managed through Soros Fund Management include Amazon, Alphabet, Salesforce, Apple, and TKO Group. Geographic reach centers on North America, Europe, Africa, and Latin America with offices in New York, London, and Berlin. The foundation maintains approximately $5.8B in assets. It added the Open Society Action Fund as a 501(c)(4) vehicle for U.S. policy work. Binaifer Nowrojee became president in June 2024. Additional vehicles include the Soros Arts Fellowship and the African Cultural Repatriation Initiative. The organization participates in the World Economic Forum and Global Impact Investing Network. Governance separates the grantmaking foundation from the investment advisor Soros Fund Management, which has operated under Dawn Fitzpatrick since 2017. This separation allows the board to maintain direct control over program strategy while outsourcing portfolio management.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1993
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
224 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019, United States
Additional offices
London, United Kingdom · Berlin, Germany
Principals
George Soros
Founder and Chairman Emeritus
Altss tracks 3 additional named team members for this firm — including direct investment leads, IR, and operating principals not listed on the public website.
Book a demoSector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at The Open Society Foundations?
Soros Fund Management serves as the external investment advisor. Dawn Fitzpatrick has led that firm since 2017. The OSF board retains final authority over program allocations and the Soros Economic Development Fund.
Does The Open Society Foundations participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The Soros Economic Development Fund makes both limited partner commitments and direct investments. Confirmed holdings include SP Ventures AgVentures III and direct ownership in Global Access Health.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
George Soros generated the capital through Soros Fund Management, his hedge fund operation. The foundation received the assets as philanthropic transfers beginning in the 1990s.
How is The Open Society Foundations related to Soros Fund Management?
Soros Fund Management acts as the dedicated investment advisor under a long-standing mandate. The two entities maintain separate governance and leadership.
What investment stages does The Open Society Foundations typically target through its impact arm?
The Soros Economic Development Fund focuses on growth-stage companies in emerging markets. It has backed venture funds and operating businesses in climate finance, healthcare, and agriculture.
Does The Open Society Foundations maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
Yes. The Foundation to Promote Open Society handles grantmaking while the Open Society Action Fund conducts 501(c)(4) advocacy. Both sit under the same board but use distinct legal entities.
Which sectors does The Open Society Foundations explicitly prioritize?
The network prioritizes democracy, human rights, criminal justice reform, and climate finance. It has also funded cultural repatriation and artist fellowships.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on endowments & foundations?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: