In 1998, the Open Society Institute, an international foundation founded by philanthropist George Soros, decided to open a field office in the United States. The foundation was interested in finding a location where it could invest significant charitable funds to address the root causes of poverty and injustice in an urban setting. They looked at a number of cities and ultimately decided that Baltimore had a unique set of attributes that would make it a good choice for this “laboratory,” where a number of initiatives could be tested and evaluated.
OSI-Baltimore was launched as a five-year initiative which was extended for three years because of the progress of its work. Over the course of an eight-year period, from 1998 through 2005, the foundation directed over $50 million toward targeted grants and technical assistance to achieve lasting change in Baltimore's neighborhoods, schools, prisons, workplaces and government agencies. Its work has evolved so that it now focuses exclusively on four initiative areas including tackling drug addiction, helping youth succeed, reducing the social and economic costs of incarceration, and the Baltimore Community Fellowships.
By combining financial resources with a highly trained local staff, an experienced board that is Baltimore-based, and a hands-on operating approach, OSI-Baltimore has worked to reverse the disenfranchisement that poverty and lack of opportunity spawn, and to build a better Baltimore in which to live, work, and learn. In the last nine years, OSI-Baltimore has helped to reform ineffective public policies, has launched a new generation of leaders and vital, sustainable programs for city neighborhoods, and has leveraged over $225 million in public and private funds for education, youth programming, juvenile justice reform, drug addiction treatment, criminal justice reform, and the Baltimore Community Fellowships program.
Our Approach
OSI-Baltimore’s work is distinctive in the community because it is committed to a core set of values that it shares with its parent foundation, and the belief that its work will build and strengthen an open society. It embraces voices from marginalized groups, stimulates public debate and engagement, and promotes access to opportunity with the ultimate goal of making public systems work better for all citizens.
OSI-Baltimore’s approach is different from many other organizations working in Baltimore because it is focused on policy advocacy and strengthening existing systems. This focus on systemic change and public systems is designed to create lasting change for the city. It entails combining existing resources with new ones, eliminating wasteful practices, and finding integrated solutions. It means that staff and board members must actively partner with public and private organizations. OSI-Baltimore’s work is often done behind the scenes, building capacity and creating solutions based on both tested strategies and innovative ideas.
Often noted for an activist and “think tank” orientation, OSI-Baltimore staff and board members are all engaged in the community and believe in combining study and action. The advisory board is comprised of local leaders, educators, and practitioners. It is racially diverse and many members have track records of activism. Staff not only bring professional credentials and expertise to their work, but also bring new ideas, research, and people to the table. They are active participants in the city and serve on many organization boards and committees. The office frequently sponsors community forums where experts from across the country engage in dialogue with local practitioners and leaders.
Site Credits
OSI-Baltimore website heading photograph: Murals created at the Lockherman Bundy Elementary School under the leadership of Jay Wolf Schlossberg-Cohen, 2004 class VII fellow, whose project was entitled "Rebuilding Through Art." Photograph by Eric Blair.
