The Open Society Fellowship supports individuals seeking innovative and unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges. The fellowship funds work that will enrich public understanding of those challenges and stimulate far-reaching and probing conversations within the Open Society Institute and in the world.
A fellowship project might identify a problem that has not previously been recognized, develop new policy ideas to address familiar problems, or offer a new advocacy strategy. Fellows should take advantage of the considerable intellectual and logistical resources of the Open Society Institute and expect to contribute meaningfully to OSI's thinking in return. In evaluating each proposal, the selection committee weighs three factors: the applicant, the topic of the project, and the work product.
Proposals are accepted year round, but those received by September 7, 2010 will be evaluated by November 26, 2010.
ApplicantsThe Open Society Fellowship chooses its fellows from a diverse pool of applicants that includes journalists, activists, academics, and practitioners in a variety of fields. Applicants should possess a deep understanding of their chosen subject area and a track record of professional accomplishment.
The fellowship seeks “idea entrepreneurs” from across the world who are ready to challenge conventional wisdom. Successful applicants will be eager to exploit the many resources offered by OSI and be prepared to engage constructively with the global OSI community. Ideal fellows are specialists who can see beyond the parochialisms of their field and possess the tenacity to complete a project of exceptional merit.
Topic of the Project
The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. Among OSI's core areas of concern are human rights, government transparency, the promotion of civil society and social inclusion. Project themes should cut across these areas of interest. Applicants are encouraged to explore this website to acquaint themselves with the panoply of themes and geographic areas that fall within
OSI's purview. Below are some possible topic areas that fellows may explore in the coming years:
- Global migration and the rights of displaced minorities
- Organized crime, corruption, and state failure
- The economic crisis and its effect on open societies
- Movement-building and state repression in societies affected by climate change
- The impact of new technologies on citizen access to information and justice
- The link between governance, transparency, and economic development.
Open Society Fellows are currently investigating the corrosive effect of the global arms trade on democratic institutions, the challenges of community organizing in rural America, and new techniques of outreach and communication with victims of mass atrocity.
What these projects share is a zeal for problem-solving, the confidence to test hypotheses against observed reality, and an impatience with conventional or clichéd thinking.
Applicants who are uncertain whether their topic fits within OSI's organizational interests are invited to submit a brief
letter of inquiry, accompanied by a CV, before proceeding with the online application process. That letter of inquiry should be addressed to:
OSFellows@sorosny.org.
The Work ProductSuccessful projects should push the boundaries of current thinking and carry lessons that can be applied to a variety of settings. Applicants should carefully consider the impact they want their work to have and the audiences they wish to reach. They should then think creatively about the activities and work products that will reach these audiences most effectively.
Fellows may produce a variety of work products, including publications such as books, reports, or blogs; innovative public-education projects; or the launch of new campaigns or organizations. They may also engage in activities such as hosting panel discussions, traveling to conferences, participating in policy debates, and aggressively promoting their ideas in public venues.
Fellowship projects can include photography, outreach and advocacy around documentary film, and other forms of cultural production. Applicants in the arts must demonstrate rigorous and original thinking about the nexus of cultural expression and social change.
Fellowship Expectations
At the heart of the fellowship is the Open Society Institute itself. Fellows are invited to join the rich and diverse OSI community, a global network of activists and institutions dedicated to defending civil society and improving the lives of the world's most vulnerable citizens.
Fellows are expected to take full advantage of OSI's expansive reach and work to bring new people and fresh ideas into the organization's ambit. The program anticipates that most fellows will spend a portion of their fellowship term at one of the organization's main offices, in New York, Washington, London, Brussels, or Budapest, or at an OSI regional foundation. While in residence, they are strongly encouraged to organize and participate in conferences and program events and may be asked to run a seminar involving OSI staff and outside colleagues. Ultimately, fellows should sharpen the organization's thinking, question its assumptions, and broaden its understanding of pivotal political and social problems.
In order to facilitate these interactions, proficiency in spoken English is required.
Fellowship Placement and Term
OSI considers applicants from all parts of the world. Most fellows spend a portion of their term in one or more OSI offices. Fellows may work out of multiple OSI offices during their term.
Fellows who wish to work on their project in a country in which they do not have citizenship must satisfy and comply with applicable visa requirements. OSI helps fellows obtain necessary visas and covers all associated costs.
Fellowships are awarded for one year. In some cases OSI considers requests for shorter or longer durations. Preference is given to applications for full-time fellowships, but OSI also considers applicants who can only work part-time on their projects.
Fellowship Support
For a full-time fellow based in the U.S., the stipend ranges from $60,000 to $100,000. For fellows based in other countries, appropriate adjustments will be made to reflect the economic circumstances and costs of living in those countries. Stipends are based on several factors including work experience, seniority, prior earnings, and the proportion of time committed to the fellowship. The stipend does not necessarily equal the applicant's current salary. In certain cases, fellows will receive additional financial support to enable them to meet the residency expectation.
In most cases, OSI provides fellows with communications support to convey their work to a broader audience and influence current debates. OSI also integrates fellows into its networks of individual and organizational partners and grantees.
OSI may cover additional project expenses such as travel (including airfare and hotel), visa costs, part-time research assistance, conference fees and health insurance. Fellowship expenses should not include operational or programmatic costs, such as employees and physical infrastructure. The purpose of the fellowship is to support individual fellows; therefore OSI will only cover individual expenses.
The fellowship does not fund enrollment for degree or non-degree study at academic institutions, including dissertation research.
Please note that under federal tax rules applicable to U.S. private foundations, OSI cannot support lobbying activities. Projects that include lobbying activities will not be funded. If you're unsure whether your project activities constitute lobbying, please review the
Tax Law Lobbying Rules before submitting an application.
Application and SelectionAll interested applicants should complete the online application form at
https://oas.soros.org/oas and submit supporting materials for consideration. Please read the
FAQs before applying. Applicants may submit a project proposal or other materials in a language other than English, as long as they also submit an English translation. Certified translations are strongly recommended.
Once the initial information has been entered, applicants receive login details and an ID number that allows them to make additions and revisions to the form until materials are submitted. The ID number should be quoted in any correspondence.
Applicants may mail their hard-copy materials to:
Open Society Fellowship
Open Society Institute
400 West 59th Street
New York, NY 10019
Note: Only applicants without Internet access may send an application by post. A PDF application form can be downloaded below. All others must apply online.
Applications are reviewed year round. Fellowship staff evaluate applications in consultation with OSI colleagues and outside experts. Reviewers consider whether the applicant's background, track record, and depth of expertise give reason to believe that the project will be successfully completed and whether the applicant offers persuasive evidence that the fellowship project will significantly inform and challenge the Open Society community.
A small number of applicants are selected as finalists. These finalists are considered by an outside selection committee, which meets three to four times a year. Applicants seeking a timely response to their proposals should keep in mind the following deadline:
- Applications received by September 7, 2010, will be evaluated by November 26, 2010.
OSI considers applications subject to funding availability.
Contact Information
