'We will not be intimidated into silence': George Soros foundation pledges $300 million toward democratic rights | Fortune

Open Society Foundations pledged $300 million toward initiatives to defend democratic rights and advance economic security in the United States over the next five years. The pledge comes amid accusations from the Trump administration and allies targeting the Soros family, including claims of supporting violence and fostering division. Allies in Congress have urged the IRS and the Department of Justice to investigate nonprofits accused of supporting domestic terrorism, illegal immigration, or climate programs they oppose. OSF leadership said the foundation would not be intimidated into silence. OSF reported grants supporting the rule of law and efforts to counter policies that deter participation in public life. The new strategy aims to connect economic well-being with deeper civil rights protections and to pursue state-level policies that can be replicated elsewhere.

"Open Society Foundations pledged $300 million Wednesday toward initiatives it says will defend democratic rights and advance economic security in the U.S. over the next five years. The new strategy comes even as President Donald Trump's administration has singled out the Soros family, accusing them of supporting violence and fostering division. Those attacks are part of a broad effort rolled out in 2025 by Trump and his allies to influence nonprofits and charitable funders through executive orders, by withholding funding or by threatening investigations."

""We are continuing our work unabated. We will not be intimidated into silence," said Laleh Ispahani, managing director for the U.S. at Open Society Foundations, when asked about the administration's attacks on the Soros family. In the past year, Ispahani said OSF has provided grants to organizations working to defend the rule of law and to push back on policies that seek to deter parts of the U.S. population from participating in public life."

"The foundations' new strategy aims to improve people's economic well-being and deepen civil rights protections, which she said are often handled separately rather than seen as two sides of the same struggle. OSF will look for state-level policies that strengthen protections for vulnerable groups, which could be replicated in other states, Ispahani"

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