Mission:
The Open Society Institute (OSI) is a private operating and grantmaking foundation based in New York City that serves as the hub of the Soros foundations network, a group of autonomous foundations and organizations in more than fifty countries. OSI and the network implement a range of initiatives that aim to promote open societies by shaping government policy and supporting education, media, public health, and human and women's rights, as well as social, legal, and economic reform.

Background:
In 1984, financier and philanthropist George Soros began to establish what became a series of foundations in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union to help former communist countries transition to democracy. He created the Open Society Institute in 1993 to oversee the network of foundations, which has expanded over the years to include foundations and initiatives in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, Turkey, and the United States.

Outstanding Feature:
The recently redesigned OSI Web site is primarily organized around the group's initiatives, which include grantmaking efforts, operating programs, and fellowships and scholarships. Grantseekers and visitors who are curious about OSI's work can browse the site by issue or region using two pull-down menus — What We Do and Where We Work — that are located at the bottom of each page throughout the site. Every page also includes a keyword search box. In addition to its improved navigation tools, the site has a new look with photographs from OSI's archives and photo exhibits.