Think Tank Fund

The Think Tank Fund "of the Open Society Institute aims to support independent policy centers that strengthen democratic processes in their countries by identifying and analyzing policy options, consulting with the government and advocating their recommendations, involving stakeholders outside government circles in policy debates, and making their findings widely available to the public. The Think Tank Fund fosters institutions that carry out nonpartisan policy-relevant research and promote inclusive policy change...

"The Think Tank Fund has emerged from a variety of grants administered by the Human Rights & Governance Grants Program (HRGGP) in Central and Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and the former Soviet Union (excluding Russia and Central Asian Republics). These grants to various think tanks were administered on behalf of the OSI board, president, and policy advisory board up to 2005.

"Originally an integral part of HRGGP, the fund has evolved into an independent grantmaking program. The fund draws on specific country-by-country funding strategies based on needs assessment, cooperation with Soros foundations, and careful selection of potential grantees. Gradually expanding its geographical scope over the last two years, the fund has reached a consolidated portfolio of more than 30 grantees in some 15 countries."

Think Tank Fund strategy for 2008-2010.

Directors
Accessed November 2008:


 * Thomas Carothers, Chair
 * Thomas C. Heller
 * Jacek Kucharczyk
 * Gwendolyn Sasse
 * Violetta Zentai