Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSF B&H) is non-profit foundation that works to initiate and support the values of an open society, as well as the sustainability of the open society in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
OSF B&H operates throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, implementing Program projects of its own, and supporting other projects from several areas as defined by the OSF B&H Strategy.
Soros foundations are autonomous institutions established in particular countries or regions to initiate and support open society activities. The priorities and specific activities of each Soros foundation are determined by a local board of directors and staff in consultation with George Soros and OSI boards and advisors.
The Open Society Institute (OSI) is a private operating and grant-making foundation based in New York City that serves as the hub of the Soros Foundations Network, a group of autonomous foundations and organizations in more than 50 countries. OSI and the Network implement a range of initiatives that aim to promote open societies.
The Soros Foundations Network is a group of autonomous foundations and organizations from over 50 countries of the world. Open Society Institute (OSI) and the Network that includes the Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina, implement a range of initiatives that aim to promote open societies. To diminish and prevent the negative consequences of globalization, the Soros foundations and OSI seek to foster global open society by increasing collaboration with other nongovernmental organizations, governments, and international institutions.
An open society is a society based on the recognition that nobody has a monopoly on the truth, that different people have different views and interests, and that there is a need for institutions to protect the rights of all people to allow them to live together in peace. Broadly speaking, an open society is characterized by a reliance on the rule of law, the existence of a democratically elected government, a diverse and vigorous civil society, and respect for minorities and minority opinions.
The term "open society" was popularized by the philosopher Karl Popper in his 1945 book Open Society and Its Enemies. Popper's work deeply influenced George Soros, the founder of the Open Society Institute, and it is upon the concept of an open society that Soros bases his philanthropic activity.
Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina implements projects trough its Programs (Education, Law, Roma, Civil Society, and Local Governance). For more information, please see Programs on this website.
Soros foundations and institutions operate in over 50 countries worldwide. For more information, and a complete list of foundations, please go to the Soros Foundations Network segment of this website.
OSF B&H operates from the main office in Sarajevo, the capital, and a Field office in Banja Luka. Regional office of the foundation is in Budapest, Hungary, and the Home office is at the Open Society Institute (OSI) in New York, USA. For a list of foundations worldwide, please go to the Soros Foundations Network segment of this website.
The Open Society Institute and Soros Foundations Network, including the Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina, are funded by George Soros personally and by philanthropic trusts established by the Soros family.
For information about how to apply for a grant or fellowship from any of the Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina, you may look at section News of this website. For information about grants, fellowships or scholarships from the Soros Foundations Network, please view pages of the Open Society Institute.
Yes. Partnerships and joint ventures with the Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina are generally formed at the initiative level of respective programs. For more information and information about partnerships on the Network level, please visit www.soros.org.
George Soros is the founder and chairman of the Open Society Institute and the Soros Foundations Network. For more information, visit the About us section of the website.
George Soros is not involved in the day-to-day management of the Open Society Institute or the Soros Foundations Network. However, he does play a role in setting broad policy goals in his capacity as the chairman of OSI, the Network, and other related programs and institutions such as the Central European University.
We do not provide contact information for George Soros or his investment companies. For more information on how to contact the Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Open Society Institute, please visit the contact or Soros Foundations Network of this website.
Aryeh Neier is the President of the Open Society Institute (OSI, NY). Before joining the Open Society Institute (OSI) and the Soros Foundations Network as resident in September 1993, Aryeh Neier spent 12 years as executive director of Human Rights Watch, of which he is a founder. Prior to that, he worked for the American Civil Liberties Union for 15 years, including eight as national director. Neier served as an adjunct professor of law at New York University for over 15 years, and is the author of six books.
In 2003, the total expenditures by OSI and the Soros Foundations Network amount to $429,221,000.
Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina accepts donations from individuals and organizations in certain circumstances. You can request specific information about donating by contacting the Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina directly at osf@soros.org.ba.
The Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina is registered as a foundation and in compliance with the Law on Associations and Foundations ("Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina", Year IX - No.45/02)
Established by George Soros in Budapest, Hungary in 1991, Central European University (CEU) is an internationally recognized institution of post-graduate education in social sciences and humanities. CEU seeks to contribute to the development of open societies in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union by promoting a system of education in which ideas are creatively, critically, and comparatively examined.
For more information, please go to www.ceu.hu