About Us

The International Renaissance Foundation is one of the largest Ukrainian charitable foundations, which since 1990 has been building an open society in Ukraine where everyone feels worthy, where citizens are included in the creation of the state, and the government is transparent and accountable. We work to build a Ukraine in which human rights are reliably protected, and positive changes work for the benefit of citizens.

The Foundation was founded by philanthropist George Soros and is part of the international network of Open Society Foundations.

Our Goal

For 36 years now, we have been working to build an open society for a free Ukraine. We strive to ensure that every Ukrainian can live with dignity, that citizens are involved in shaping the state, that the government is transparent and accountable, that human rights are reliably protected, and that positive changes benefit the citizens

Our Strategic Priorities

Seven strategic priorities that guide the Foundation’s work during wartime: from preserving democracy and ensuring justice for war crimes to the reintegration of veterans, the country’s recovery, and European integration.

The Irreversibility of Ukraine's Democratic Course

We support mechanisms that make Ukraine’s democratic development irreversible, even in the midst of war. Together with think tanks and civil society organizations, we develop and advocate for the policies needed to advance reforms and preserve democracy. Our goal is to make transparency, accountability, and citizen participation the norm.

Equal Participation for War Victims

War gives rise to new groups that need to be heard: internally displaced persons, families of the deceased and missing, and people from frontline and de-occupied territories. We support them not as beneficiaries, but as independent actors: we provide resources, skills, and space so that they can participate in dialogues and influence policy.

Justice for War Crimes

We are working to ensure that those guilty of war crimes are brought to justice, that victims receive compensation, and that these crimes are documented and not forgotten. We are aware that international support depends on politics, and that justice can be sacrificed for the sake of peace agreements. That is why we are stepping up our advocacy at the national and international levels to ensure that justice is served.

People-Centered Recovery

We support organizations and think tanks that help communities transition from mere survival to a transparent, inclusive, and people-centered recovery. This is achieved through citizen participation in monitoring reconstruction efforts, scaling up successful initiatives, advocating for reforms, cultural projects, and providing spaces for self-expression.

Reintegration of Veterans

We have been supporting the veteran community since 2014 and follow a simple approach: rather than singling out veterans as a special group, we involve them in democratic processes and the country’s recovery as full-fledged participants. Veterans’ policy must be fair, people-centered, and linked to the broader processes of recovery and European integration.

European integration as a driver of reform

Real progress on the path to the EU requires political will, reforms, and coordinated action by the government and civil society. We support think tanks that monitor the implementation of reforms and provide expert analysis; we facilitate dialogue between Ukrainian and European experts; and we help communities understand what European integration means in practice.

International Support for a Just Peace

International discussions are increasingly shifting from a focus on victory to a focus on negotiations, so under these circumstances, support for Ukraine from its partners is becoming even more critical. Together with our partners, we are working to consolidate this support: military and financial aid, political pressure on the aggressor, and reliable security guarantees from the EU, the U.S., and the G7.

Our Strategy

We are working to ensure that Ukrainian democracy remains resilient during and after the war. Our efforts are focused on three areas—participatory governance, justice and recovery, and Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
More

Our Programs

Go to Human Rights and Justice

Human Rights and Justice

Purpose

We help hold Russia accountable for war crimes and make justice reform and the protection of Ukrainians' freedoms possible
Go to Democracy and Good Governance

Democracy and Good Governance

Purpose

We help preserve stable democracy in Ukraine and make Ukrainian governance transparent and accountable
Go to Europe and the World

Europe and the World

Purpose

We help advance Ukraine's European integration and make democratic, rights-based governance reforms and greater international support possible
All programs
george-soros

Founder of the foundation

George Soros
George Soros is an American investor and philanthropist. Over more than 40 years of charitable work, he has allocated about $25 billion to support democracy, human rights, and open societies.
Learn more about Soros

More about us

Not just aid, but opportunities: explaining our vision of people-centered recovery

Що таке відновлення і коли його необхідно розпочинати? Пояснює Інна Підлуська, заступниця виконавчого директора Фонду

The Foundation as Part of a Global Network

Open Society Foundations

The International Renaissance Foundation is part of the Open Society Foundations network, which operates in more than 120 countries. The foundations work to strengthen the rule of law, respect for human rights, minorities, and diversity of opinion

Learn about Foundations
Open Society Foundations

HOW TO APPLY?

Please complete the application form and submit it via your personal account. Applications are accepted exclusively in electronic form, and the assessment process involves several stages. 
Visit