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
Our Strategic Priorities
The Irreversibility of Democratic Development
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.
Fund Strategy 2026
Foundation Programs
Human Rights and Justice
Purpose
Contribute to holding Russia accountable for war crimes, continuing justice reforms in Ukraine, and protecting the fundamental freedoms of UkrainiansEurope and the World
Purpose
The mission of the program is to support the European integration of Ukraine as a means to introduce effective pro-European reforms in the areas of democratization, human rights, good governance and the rule of law based on the best global practices, as well as to work on increasing aidSocial Capital
Purpose
We build and strengthen communities that are the backbone of an open society, create prerequisites for public dialogue and cohesion based on democratic values
Founder of the foundation
Open Society Foundations
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
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