Open Society Foundations (OSF), founded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros, is planning to significantly reduce its work in Europe and lay off a large portion of its staff in the continent. The strategic change, which includes withdrawing support for human rights and civil society initiatives in the European Union, has caused confusion and concern among OSF employees and grantees.
The decision comes after Alex Soros, George Soros’ son, announced a new operating model for OSF. The lack of communication about the changes and uncertainty surrounding the organization’s future direction has raised doubts about OSF’s commitment to its founding principles. The proposed cuts have sparked worries that philanthropies supporting conservative social movements may gain more ground in Europe.