Welcome to OSF-SA
The Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) is committed to promoting the values, institutions, and practices of an open, non-racial and non-sexist, democratic, civil society.
We are part of the Open Society Foundations network which includes these other African organisations: OSISA, OSIWA, and OSIEA.
Our focus areas include the Information, Expression, and Accountability Programme, the Justice, Equality, and Rights Programme, and the Research and Advocacy Unit.
In 2018, OSF-SA is celebrating 25 years in South Africa. Watch this space! To find out more about our work, read our latest fact sheet.
Twice a year, OSF-SA considers applications for funding that align with our strategic priorities. Applications must be submitted to OSF-SA through one of our two grant cycles. We are unable to consider applications outside of these cycles.
OSF-SA has adjusted its grant cycles. In 2019 OSF-SA will have one open call for Expressions of Interest, that will be open to any eligible organisation OR any organisation that has received funding for 1 year or less. This process will open in mid-January 2019.
If your organisation is a returning grantee and has received 2 or more years of consecutive funding, your organisation will be asked to submit a full online application. Returning grantees (2+ years of consecutive funding) will be contacted directly by OSF-SA.
Before considering applying for funding from OSF-SA, please take some time to familiarise yourself with our strategic grant-making focus areas, selection criteria, grant cycles and grant-making process.
For information on OSF-SA’s 2019 grant cycles and application process click here.
In 2018 the Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) celebrates 25 years of grant-making in South Africa.
In the past 25 years, we have promoted human rights and constitutionalism to support a democratic and open society in South Africa. We will continue to do so.
To commemorate this important milestone, and in keeping with our transformation objectives, OSF-SA will be featuring the important work of our grantees over the last 25 years. We will also be celebrating young and emerging civil society voices and leaders as we look to the next 25 years of our democracy.
We are looking forward to sharing more information about a number of #OpenSocietySA25 events and initiatives.
Grantee News & Publications
OSF-SA convening on xenophobic violence
The JER programme on 4 October 2019 hosted a dialogue with CSOs in response to incidents of xenophobic violence which occurred in early September 2019 in the inner cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg.
OSF-SA News & Publications
Open Society Foundations Announce New Fund to Support Activists in South Africa
New York—The Open Society Foundations announced today the formation of a new $330,000 fund to support human rights defenders in South Africa, who in recent years have faced a steady increase in harassment, intimidation, and violence. Over three years, the fund—known as The South African Human Rights Defenders Fund—will support advocates working on land, housing, and environmental rights, with a special emphasis on aiding women advocates who face threats and violence.
Welcome to OSF-SA
The Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) is committed to promoting the values, institutions, and practices of an open, non-racial and non-sexist, democratic, civil society.
We are part of the Open Society Foundations network which includes these other African originations: OSISA, OSIWA, OSIEA.
Our focus areas include the Information, Expression, and Accountability Programme, the Justice, Equality, and Rights Programme, and the Research and Advocacy Unit.
In 2018, OSF-SA is celebrating 25 years in South Africa. Watch this space! To find out more about our work, read our latest fact sheet.
Twice a year, OSF-SA considers applications for funding that align with our strategic priorities. Applications must be submitted to OSF-SA through one of our two grant cycles. We are unable to consider applications outside of these cycles.
Before considering applying for funding from OSF-SA, please spend some time to familiarise yourself with our strategic grant-making focus areas, selection criteria, grant cycles and grant-making process.
OSF-SA’s 2018 funding cycles are now closed.
In 2018 the Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) celebrates 25 years of grant-making in South Africa.
In the past 25 years, we have promoted human rights and constitutionalism to support a democratic and open society in South Africa. We will continue to do so.
To commemorate this important milestone, and in keeping with our transformation objectives, the OSF will be featuring the important work of our grantees over the last 25 years. We will also be celebrating young and emerging civil society voices and leaders as we look to the next 25 years of our democracy.
We are looking forward to sharing more information about a number of #OpenSocietySA25 events and initiatives.
Grantee News & Publications
OSF-SA convening on xenophobic violence
The JER programme on 4 October 2019 hosted a dialogue with CSOs in response to incidents of xenophobic violence which occurred in early September 2019 in the inner cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg.
OSF-SA News & Publications
Open Society Foundations Announce New Fund to Support Activists in South Africa
New York—The Open Society Foundations announced today the formation of a new $330,000 fund to support human rights defenders in South Africa, who in recent years have faced a steady increase in harassment, intimidation, and violence. Over three years, the fund—known as The South African Human Rights Defenders Fund—will support advocates working on land, housing, and environmental rights, with a special emphasis on aiding women advocates who face threats and violence.