The Open Society Foundation's objectives are:

the advancement of education by the award of scholarships and funding to students, scholars and educational institutions of different countries to enable such persons and institutions to attend and deliver courses of education and research seminars and to promote academic exchange programmes;

the advancement of the education of the public in the political and social sciences and in the understanding and appreciation of the arts;

the promotion of good citizenship by encouraging participation in legally recognised democratic processes;

the advancement of education about human rights by teaching or by conducting or commissioning research upon human rights and publishing the useful results of such research, to raise awareness about human rights and to cultivate a public sentiment in favour of human rights;

the promotion of equality and diversity by the elimination of racial and religious discrimination;

the promotion of health by:
research into provision of public health services and the publication of the useful results of such research;
the education and training of healthcare providers; and
educating the public upon public health issues;

the advancement of education in journalism and reporting in other media; and

the relief of poverty by amongst other things assisting in the provision of schools, housing, roads and public utilities.

(Excerpts from the Memorandum of Association of Open Society Foundation)