The Strategic Opportunities Fund was set up to respond more rapidly and flexibly to emerging challenges, utilizing a more coherent thematic strategy that may often be driven by current opportunities to impact specific open society issues. Funding is directed towards countering policies that threaten open society and democracy, as well as support for the maintenance of independent institutions that are critical to the functioning of an open society. Grantmaking considerations include a time frame for involvement that varies based on need and opportunity, and that is not pre-set.

The mission of the Strategic Opportunities Fund is to support values that ensure an open society utilizing a variety of approaches including but not limited to grantmaking, support for policy analysis, communications and advocacy and on a limited basis, support for fellowships. Strategies will be directed towards making impact, shaping public discourse, and encouraging activism in various areas. The fund will promote the Open Society Institute’s values and work to restore the promise of pluralistic democracy, development of human potential, and promotion of individual respect and dignity. OSI will also reserve money within this fund so that it can continue to perform its traditional role in supporting organizations and collaboratives that help sustain the philanthropic and nonprofit sector. OSI will make occasional grants that relate to broader funding areas where programs have ended and where there is a need for one-time grants to solidify or sustain an OSI-initiated project or organization, and where a grant will potentially leverage earlier OSI investments.