The Applicant
The Open Society Fellowship chooses its fellows from a diverse pool of applicants that includes journalists, activists, academics, and practitioners in a variety of fields. Applicants should possess a deep understanding of their chosen subject area and a track record of professional accomplishment.
The fellowship seeks “idea entrepreneurs” from across the world who are ready to challenge conventional wisdom. Successful applicants will be eager to exploit the many resources offered by the Open Society Foundations and be prepared to engage constructively with our global network. Ideal fellows are specialists who can see beyond the parochialisms of their field and possess the tenacity to complete a project of exceptional merit.
The Topic of the Project
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. Among the Foundations' core areas of concern are human rights, government transparency, the promotion of civil society and social inclusion. Project themes should cut across these areas of interest. Applicants are encouraged to explore this website to acquaint themselves with the panoply of themes and geographic areas that fall within the Foundations' purview. Below are some possible topic areas that fellows may explore in the coming years:
- Global migration and the rights of displaced minorities
- Organized crime, corruption, and state failure
- The economic crisis and its effect on open societies
- Movement-building and state repression in societies affected by climate change
- The impact of new technologies on citizen access to information and justice
- The link between governance, transparency, and economic development.
Open Society Fellows are currently investigating the corrosive effect of the global arms trade on democratic institutions, the challenges of community organizing in rural America, and new techniques of outreach and communication with victims of mass atrocity.
What these projects share is a zeal for problem-solving, the confidence to test hypotheses against observed reality, and an impatience with conventional or clichéd thinking.
Applicants who are uncertain whether their topic fits within the Foundations' focus areas are invited to submit a brief letter of inquiry, accompanied by a CV, before proceeding with the online application process. That letter of inquiry should be addressed to: OSFellows@sorosny.org.
The Work Product
Successful projects should push the boundaries of current thinking and carry lessons that can be applied to a variety of settings. Applicants should carefully consider the impact they want their work to have and the audiences they wish to reach. They should then think creatively about the activities and work products that will reach these audiences most effectively.
Fellows may produce a variety of work products, including publications such as books, reports, or blogs; innovative public-education projects; or the launch of new campaigns or organizations. They may also engage in activities such as hosting panel discussions, traveling to conferences, participating in policy debates, and aggressively promoting their ideas in public venues.
Fellowship projects can include photography, outreach and advocacy around documentary film, and other forms of cultural production. Applicants in the arts must demonstrate rigorous and original thinking about the nexus of cultural expression and social change.
Fellowship Expectations
At the heart of the fellowship are the Open Society Foundations themselves. Fellows are invited to join the rich and diverse Foundations community, a global network of activists and institutions dedicated to defending civil society and improving the lives of the world's most vulnerable citizens.
Fellows are expected to take full advantage of the Foundations' expansive reach and work to bring new people and fresh ideas into the organization's ambit. The program anticipates that most fellows will spend a portion of their fellowship term at one of the organization's main offices, in New York, Washington, London, Brussels, or Budapest, or at a regional foundation. While in residence, they are strongly encouraged to organize and participate in conferences and program events and may be asked to run a seminar involving Foundations staff and outside colleagues. Ultimately, fellows should sharpen the organization's thinking, question its assumptions, and broaden its understanding of pivotal political and social problems.
In order to facilitate these interactions, proficiency in spoken English is required.
Fellowship Placement and Term
The fellowship considers applicants from all parts of the world. Most fellows spend a portion of their term in one or more Open Society Foundation offices. Fellows may work out of multiple offices during their term.
Fellows who wish to work on their project in a country in which they do not have citizenship must satisfy and comply with applicable visa requirements. The fellowship program will help fellows obtain necessary visas and covers all associated costs.
Though most fellowship terms are for one year, the program will consider requests for shorter or longer durations. Slight preference is given to applications for full-time fellowships, but the program will consider applicants who can only work part-time on their projects. The program encourages submissions from applicants with families and will work with fellows to devise a schedule that meets their needs and the program's expectations.
Fellowship Support
Full-time fellows based in the United States will receive a stipend of $80,000 or $100,000, depending on work experience, seniority, and current income. Stipends will be prorated for part-time fellows. For fellows based elsewhere, appropriate adjustments will be made to reflect the cost of living in those countries. The stipend does not necessarily equal the applicant's current salary. In certain cases, fellows will receive additional financial support to enable them to meet the residency expectation.
In most cases, the program will advise fellows on ways to communciate their work to a broader audience and influence current debates. Staff also work to integrate fellows into its networks of individual and organizational partners and grantees.
In addition to the stipend, fellows will receive a project budget. That budget may include expenses such as travel (including airfare and hotel), visa costs, part-time research assistance, conference fees and health insurance. Fellowship expenses should not include operational or programmatic costs, such as employees and physical infrastructure. The purpose of the fellowship is to support individual fellows; therefore the program will only cover individual expenses.
The fellowship does not fund enrollment for degree or non-degree study at academic institutions, including dissertation research.
Please note that under federal tax rules applicable to U.S. private foundations, the Open Society Foundations cannot support lobbying activities. Projects that include lobbying activities will not be funded. If you're unsure whether your project activities constitute lobbying, please review the Tax Law Lobbying Rules before submitting an application.
Application and Selection
All interested applicants should complete the online application form athttps://oas.soros.org/oas and submit supporting materials for consideration. Please read the FAQs before applying. Applicants may submit a project proposal or other materials in a language other than English, as long as they also submit an English translation. Certified translations are strongly recommended.
Once the initial information has been entered, applicants receive login details and an ID number that allows them to make additions and revisions to the form until materials are submitted. The ID number should be quoted in any correspondence.
The program strongly encourages applicants to submit only electronic supporting materials. However, if applicants have hard copy materials that they feel are essential to the evaluation of their project, they can list these at the end of the project proposal. Fellowship staff will reach out to applicants should it be necessary to review these materials.
Note: Only applicants without Internet access may send an application by post. A PDF application form can be downloaded below. All others must apply online.
Applications are reviewed year round. Fellowship staff evaluate applications in consultation with Foundation colleagues and outside experts. Reviewers consider whether the applicant's background, track record, and depth of expertise give reason to believe that the project will be successfully completed and whether the applicant offers persuasive evidence that the fellowship project will significantly inform and challenge the Open Society community.
A small number of applicants are selected as finalists. These finalists are considered by an outside selection committee, which meets twice a year. Applicants seeking a timely response to their proposals should keep in mind the following deadline: Applications received by August 1, 2011 will be evaluated by November 21, 2011. The next deadline will be in early 2012 for evaluation that spring.
The fellowship program considers applications subject to funding availability.
Contact Information
For more information please contact: OSFellows@sorosny.org.
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