About us

The Open Society Fund Prague supports the development of an open society and promotes systemic changes that help to strengthen democracy in the Czech Republic. It is a part of the international network called the Open Society Foundations, which was founded by American investor and philanthropist George Soros and today is active in more than 70 countries around the world.

OSF Prague encourages non-governmental non-profit organizations, civic initiatives, and individuals to actively influence conditions in their region and in their country. The foundation holds open calls for proposals through which it distributes grants for promoting human rights, transparency, education, and other areas that help to develop an open and democratic society. Between 1992 and 2010, OSF distributed more than 1.6 billion crowns for more than 9,200 projects.

OSF currently has the following main grant programs:

• Human Rights and Discrimination
• Education and Youth
• Transparency and Public Accountability
• Strengthening Civil Society
• Emergency Fund
• East East Beyond Borders

In addition to distributing grants, OSF also provides scholarships to deserving students, many of whom have gone on to graduate from prestigious universities such as Harvard and Oxford. In 1999, OSF founded the Open Society public benefit company, which has taken over some of the foundation's programs, realizing them with the help of foundation and non-foundation funding. In 2010, OSF launched the Journalism Award in order to recognize outstanding journalism in the Czech Republic.

 

How we work

OSF Prague has been an important independent organization since its founding in 1992. It holds a unique position among Czech foundations:

• In many areas, we are the only source of funding

Since OSF is financed by a foreign private donor, it is capable of responding quickly to the current needs of Czech society and is thus able to address complicated or controversial issues. For example, it is the only foundation in the Czech Republic to provide long-term financing for public watchdog organizations working to increase transparency, reduce corruption, and defend citizens against the abuse of state power.

• Our aim is to achieve systemic change

OSF works to promote systemic changes such as changes in legislation or changes in established practice. The foundation does not shy away from supporting multi-year projects, is actively engaged in discussing social issues with governmental agencies, and is a long-term partner to many non-governmental organizations and NGO networks. One example is the formation of a coalition of ten non-profit organizations, initiated by OSF in 2003. This coalition's media campaign on domestic violence called attention to the scope of this issue in the Czech Republic and significantly contributed to amending the criminal code.

• We offer innovative methods and concepts

OSF has introduced numerous new concepts to the Czech Republic. In the 1990s, the foundation supported the creation and growth of palliative care centers. It also introduced the concept of watchdog organizations engaged in defending the public's interests, and it works to promote the concept of inclusive education. OSF also has inspired non-profit organizations to make use of new methods, such as new media, in their everyday work.

• We promote NGO cooperation and networking

OSF closely collaborates with other Open Society Foundations in many different countries, and actively makes use of their experience. We recognize the power of joint citizen action and thus promote NGO cooperation and networking. For instance, the East East program contributes to the exchange of knowledge and experience among organizations in Central and Eastern Europe and in the post-Soviet region, and has also opened up possibilities for sharing experiences with African countries.

Over the course of its nearly twenty years of existence, OSF Prague has initiated the founding of numerous non-profit organizations. The foundation is a member of the Association of Foundation of the Czech Donors Forum and observes the Forum's Code of Ethics.

 

Our sources of financing

OSF operates with an annual budget of 30-35 million crowns, the absolute majority of which it redistributes in the form of grants to non-profit organizations. The foundation's main sponsor, through the Open Society Foundations, is the philanthropist George Soros. Nevertheless, OSF also receives funding from other sources.

In 1999 and 2002, OSF successfully passed both rounds of a public tender for financing from the Foundation Investment Fund, which uses 1% of the revenues from the privatization of Czech industry in order to support the non-profit sector. This financing has been incorporated into the foundation's assets, which currently amount to around 100 million crowns. Every year, the foundation distributes interest from its assets among non-profit organizations.

OSF also receives funding from various sponsors for its own activities. Its secondary school scholarship program has been supported by Pioneer Investments since 2005. Its scholarships for university students receive funding from Accenture. Scholarships are also funded in part by donations from private individuals. Other important sponsors include Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE Trust).

OSF Prague is a reliable partner and an experienced grant administrator, and so it often manages the finances of corporate foundations or other institutions. For instance, OSF is currently in charge of distributing finances from the Hyundai Endowment Fund.