Open Society Fellowship
Open Society Institute
Proposals are accepted year round
Applications received by January 8, 2010, will be evaluated by March 24, 2010.
Applications received by April 28, 2010, will be evaluated by July 21, 2010.
Website: www.soros.org
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Open Society Fellowship supports individuals seeking innovative and unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges. The fellowship funds work that will enrich public understanding of those challenges and stimulate far-reaching and probing conversations within the Open Society Institute and in the world.
A fellowship project might identify a problem that has not previously been recognized, develop new policy ideas to address familiar problems, or offer a new advocacy strategy. Fellows should take advantage of the considerable intellectual and logistical resources of the Open Society Institute and expect to contribute meaningfully to OSI’s thinking in return.
WHO MAY APPLY
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 OSI and be prepared to engage constructively with the global OSI community. Ideal fellows are specialists who can see beyond the parochialisms of their field and possess the tenacity to complete a project of exceptional merit.
REQUIREMENTS
All interested applicants should complete the online application form at https://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.
Applicants may mail their hard-copy materials to:
Open Society Fellowship
Open Society Institute
400 West 59th Street
New York, NY 10019
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.
FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT
For a full-time fellow based in the U.S., the stipend ranges from $60,000 to $100,000. For fellows based in other countries, appropriate adjustments will be made to reflect the economic circumstances and costs of living in those countries. Stipends are based on several factors including work experience, seniority, prior earnings, and the proportion of time committed to the fellowship. 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, OSI provides fellows with communications support to convey their work to a broader audience and influence current debates. OSI also integrates fellows into its networks of individual and organizational partners and grantees.
OSI may cover additional project 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 OSI will only cover individual expenses.
The fellowship does not fund enrollment for degree or non-degree study at academic institutions, including dissertation research.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: OSFellows@sorosny.org.
