Open Society Foundations

Open Society Foundations is the largest private philanthropic organization focused on democracy, human rights, and progressive policy, operating in over 120 countries with an $18 billion endowment built from George Soros's hedge fund fortune. In 2023, control passed to Alex Soros, George's 38-year-old son, who has signaled a more explicitly partisan direction — meeting frequently with Democratic politicians, attending White House events, and stating publicly that he intends to be 'more political' than his father. While OSF is considerably more transparent than most organizations on this list — it publishes annual reports, grantee lists, and financial statements — the sheer scale of its operations and its use of intermediary organizations creates significant opacity. OSF distributes approximately $1 billion annually through a network of regional foundations, fiscal sponsorships, and donor-advised funds. In the United States, OSF funds criminal justice reform organizations, immigration advocacy groups, voting rights campaigns, progressive media outlets, and district attorney races — the latter becoming a lightning rod for conservative criticism when Soros-backed prosecutors in cities like Philadelphia (Larry Krasner), Los Angeles (George Gascón), and Chicago (Kim Foxx) implemented progressive prosecution policies. The foundation's funding mechanism combines direct grants from the 501(c)(3) arm with advocacy spending through affiliated 501(c)(4) entities, allowing it to engage in both charitable work and political advocacy. OSF has been the subject of intense right-wing conspiracy theories — many antisemitic in nature — that vastly overstate its influence while simultaneously serving as genuine evidence of how billionaire philanthropy can shape policy agendas. Under Alex Soros, the foundation has increased its focus on US domestic politics, climate policy, reproductive rights, and combating democratic backsliding. OSF also funds media organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions that produce research supporting progressive policy positions, creating an intellectual ecosystem that reinforces its advocacy work. The foundation's global reach and massive budget make it unique among political philanthropies.