Open Society Foundations (OSF)

Global Influence and Political Activities

The Open Society Foundations have exercised extensive political influence across numerous countries, often through the strategic deployment of grantmaking to advocacy groups, political organizations, and social movements. Rather than operating strictly as a humanitarian or educational foundation, OSF has directed billions of dollars toward shaping political landscapes to favor left-wing and progressive policies. Since its inception, OSF has spent over $32 billion on grants and initiatives worldwide, a figure publicly acknowledged by the foundation itself.

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In Eastern Europe, OSF played a critical role in the political transformations that followed the fall of communism. During the 1990s and early 2000s, OSF backed movements advocating for open markets and liberal democratic reforms, but over time, its involvement expanded into pushing progressive cultural and immigration policies. In Hungary, for example, OSF was a major backer of organizations opposing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government. Orbán responded by passing laws to restrict foreign-funded NGOs in 2017, explicitly citing OSF’s activities as a threat to national sovereignty. The foundation later moved its operations out of Hungary to Berlin in 2018 following government pressure.

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In Africa, OSF has funded numerous civil society groups aimed at promoting social change, including those involved in electoral processes. However, there have been concerns regarding the destabilizing effects of some of these activities. In countries like Kenya and South Africa, OSF-supported groups engaged heavily in political advocacy disguised as human rights work, often pushing for radical policy changes that aligned with progressive Western agendas but were not necessarily reflective of local populations’ priorities.

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In Latin America, OSF has provided funding to organizations that support the decriminalization of drugs, open borders, and expansive welfare policies. In Brazil, OSF poured money into civil society groups opposing the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro. These efforts included support for media outlets and activist networks that worked to undermine right-leaning government initiatives.

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Inside the United States, the reach of OSF has been even more pronounced. In 2022, George Soros personally donated $128 million to Democratic causes, including major contributions to political action committees (PACs) supporting Democratic congressional candidates. According to publicly available campaign finance records, Soros was the largest single political donor in the 2022 U.S. midterms. His donations were channeled through entities such as Democracy PAC, which funds a web of activist groups and electoral initiatives.

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Beyond direct political donations, OSF grants to U.S.-based nonprofits have been tied to various ideological campaigns. Organizations that advocate for defunding the police, expanding immigration, implementing radical climate policies, and altering the structure of the U.S. Supreme Court have received substantial OSF funding. It has been found that OSF’s network often operates through fiscal sponsorship arrangements, making it difficult to trace the full extent of its financial and operational reach.

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George Soros’ influence is not limited to grantmaking. His son, Alex Soros, has emerged as an increasingly important figure in U.S. politics. Since 2021, visitor logs show that Alex Soros has visited the White House over 30 times, meeting with senior officials and policy advisors. His access and involvement indicate a continuation, and perhaps an expansion, of the Soros family's political engagement at the highest levels of American government. In 2023, Alex Soros was officially named the new chair of Open Society Foundations, signaling a generational handoff intended to maintain and intensify the organization's political focus.

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Additionally, it has been reported that Democratic politicians have been closely tied to OSF’s agenda. Figures such as President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and numerous Democratic senators and governors have benefitted either directly or indirectly from OSF-backed initiatives or campaign contributions. OSF’s funding has enabled coordinated efforts to push left-wing legislation at both federal and state levels, often through ostensibly nonpartisan nonprofits and advocacy coalitions.

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The political entanglements between OSF and Democratic Party leadership reveal a sustained and strategic investment not merely in policy change but in altering the underlying political dynamics of the United States and other countries. OSF’s activities demonstrate a long-term commitment to reshaping governance structures, cultural norms, and electoral outcomes through a combination of financial muscle and ideological advocacy.