Deadline: 07/09/2010
Open to: everyone
Fund: $60,000 – $100,000 for a full-time fellow based in the U.S; for fellows based in other countries, appropriate adjustments will be made
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. In evaluating each proposal, the selection committee weighs three factors: the applicant, the topic of the project, and the work product.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.
Eligibility
-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.
Project themes
* 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.
-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.
Funding
-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.
-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.
Application process
All interested applicants should complete the online application form and submit supporting materials for consideration. 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.
Proposals received by September 7, 2010 will be evaluated by November 26, 2010.
For more information please contact: OSFellows@sorosny.org.