The Open Society Institute (OSI) works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, OSI builds alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information.

The Open Society Fellowship supports individuals who are developing innovative solutions to pressing open society challenges. The fellowship program seeks applicants eager to communicate original and provocative ideas to a broad audience, as well as to shape policy and inspire critical debate among activists, intellectuals, decision makers, and the public. The program also aims to sharpen OSI’s thinking, question its assumptions, and broaden its understanding of pivotal problems.

A fellow’s contribution may take several forms. 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 are invited to join the diverse OSI community and bring new people and fresh ideas to the organization. Most fellows sit in residence in OSI offices. They are encouraged to organize and participate in conferences and program events and may be asked to run seminars involving OSI staff and outside colleagues. The Open Society Fellowship is open to journalists, activists, academics, and public policy practitioners from around the world.

The 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.

The 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 Product

Successful 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 Selection

All 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

Open Society Fellowship Application Form

Contact detail: OSFellows@sorosny.org

Moreinfo: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/fellowship