Open Society Foundations Fellowship

Posted by on January 07, 2013

Individuals Addressing Open Society Challenges Invited to Apply for Open Society Foundations Fellowship
Deadline: February 1, 2013

A program of the Open Society Foundations, the Open Society Fellowship was founded in 2008 to support individuals pursuing innovative and unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges. The fellowship program seeks to fund work that will enrich public understanding of those challenges and stimulate far-reaching conversations within the Open Society Foundations and in the world.

A fellowship project might identify a problem that has previously not been recognized, develop new policy ideas to address familiar problems, or offer a new advocacy strategy. Project themes should cut across at least two areas of interest to the Open Society Foundations. Among these are human rights, government transparency, access to information and to justice, and the promotion of civil society and social inclusion.

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.

The program accepts proposals from anywhere in the world. Applicants should possess a deep understanding of their chosen subject and a track record of professional accomplishment. Past and current fellows have included journalists, activists, academics, and practitioners in a variety of fields. Proficiency in spoken English is required.

Though most fellowship terms are for one year, the program will consider requests for shorter or longer durations. Most fellows spend a portion of their term in one or more Open Society Foundation offices.

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. In addition to the stipend, fellows will receive a project budget.

Proposals received by February 1, 2013, will be evaluated by May 24, 2013. (The next deadline will be in the summer of 2013 for evaluation later that year.)

Visit the Open Society Foundations Web site for complete program guidelines and application instructions.

http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/open-society-fellowship