Deadline: 15 July 2018
Open to: specialists who can see beyond the parochialisms of their field and possess the tenacity to complete a project of exceptional merit
Fellowship: a stipend of USD 80,000 or USD 100,000, depending on work experience, seniority, and current income

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 Foundations and in the world.

The Open Society Fellowship only accepts applications relevant to specific propositions. New propositions will be announced periodically. Applicants are invited to dispute, substantiate, or otherwise engage with the propositions in their proposals. Once chosen, fellows will work on projects of their own design and passion. At the same time, they are expected to take advantage of the considerable intellectual and logistical resources of the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and contribute meaningfully to the Foundations’ thinking. Fellows will also have opportunities to collaborate with one another as a cohort. It is hoped that the fellowship will not only nurture theoretical debate but also bring about policy change and reform.

Applicants for the Open Society Fellowship are invited to address the following proposition:

New and radical forms of ownership, governance, entrepreneurship, and financialization are needed to fight pervasive economic inequality.

Eligibility

• Ideal fellows are specialists who can see beyond the parochialisms of their field and possess the tenacity to complete a project of exceptional merit;
• Proposals will be accepted from anywhere in the world, although demonstrable proficiency in spoken and written English is required;
• Applicants should possess and demonstrate a deep understanding of the major themes embedded within the proposition above and be willing to work in a cohort of fellows with diverse occupational, geographic, and ideological profiles;
• Successful applicants should be eager to exploit the many resources offered by the Open Society Foundations and be prepared to engage constructively with this global network.

Fellowship

Fellows will receive a stipend of USD 80,000 or USD 100,000, depending on work experience, seniority, and current income. The stipend does not necessarily equal the applicant’s current salary. In most cases, the program will advise fellows on ways to communicate their work to a broader audience and influence current debates. Staff also work to integrate fellows into the networks of OSF’s individual and organizational partners and grantees and with other members of the fellowship cohort. 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 cover mainly individual expenses.
The fellowship does not fund enrollment for a 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 so projects that include lobbying activities will not be funded. The fellowship program considers applications subject to funding availability.

How to apply?

Applicants are asked to submit a letter of inquiry online by midnight on July 15, 2018.

Any questions may be directed to osfellows@opensocietyfoundations.org

For more information, please visit the official web page.