Open Society Foundations, the philanthropic organization established by billionaire hedge fund manager George Soros, has announced a $30 million commitment to support groups combating antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred over the next three years. The initiative aims to strengthen interfaith partnerships and protect communities facing heightened threats amid rising tensions linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict and the current fragile ceasefire.
Rising Hate Crimes Prompt Action
Last year witnessed the highest level of deadly violence against Jews globally in over three decades, according to a Tel Aviv University study released last month. Notable incidents include a December shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia. Concurrently, anti-Muslim rhetoric has escalated, with one Republican member of Congress stating that Muslims "don't belong in American society."
"The deep injustices occurring in the Middle East are fueling indiscriminate prejudice, dehumanization, and violence directed against both Muslims and Jews," said Binaifer Nowrojee, President of Open Society Foundations. "Entire communities cannot be targeted simply because of their religion. Bigotry and intolerance in any form must be called out and confronted."
Foundations' Most Visible Campaign
This announcement marks the foundations' most prominent campaign since reports emerged last autumn that the U.S. Department of Justice was considering potential charges against Open Society Foundations. President Donald Trump specifically named Soros when ordering the FBI to address what he termed "left-wing terrorism," an accusation OSF has denied, emphasizing its mission to strengthen democracy.
Alex Soros, who assumed leadership of his father's foundations in late 2022, highlighted that "discrimination and hate" are not abstract concepts for him, as the son of a Holocaust survivor and husband to a Muslim American. The foundation noted that George Soros, a liberal megadonor with extensive financial investments and philanthropic ties, is frequently targeted by conservative conspiracy theories that twist his influence into antisemitic tropes. "At a moment like this we need to stand together and act," Alex Soros stated in a pretaped video. "This investment is about keeping people safe and pushing back against hate."
Funding Allocation and Grantees
The commitment aims to expand education on various forms of discrimination, support cross-community leaders fostering trust, and safeguard free speech rights. The foundations have already selected initial grantees and are inviting other nonprofits to apply for funding. Recipients include the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and the Nexus Project. Shoulder to Shoulder, a multifaith alliance preparing religious leaders to address anti-Muslim discrimination, is among those leading efforts against Islamophobia.
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, welcomed the strategy of tackling both issues jointly. The grant will enable JCPA to build upon its solidarity work with Muslim and Arab American communities, which has deepened since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. She cited a fellowship and a Capitol Hill discussion on Jewish-Muslim solidarity launched with the Muslim Public Affairs Council. "Hate is interconnected," Spitalnick emphasized. "The normalization of Islamophobia, racism, and broader anti-democratic extremism creates conditions for antisemitism to flourish. Jewish safety requires Muslim safety, and Muslim safety requires Jewish safety."
Defining Antisemitism: A Point of Contention
The announcement did not specify how the foundations will define antisemitism, a contentious issue on college campuses and in state legislatures where debates rage over whether criticism of Israel equates to hatred of Jewish people. The shortlist of grantees suggests a more nuanced definition than that of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which releases an annual audit of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. The ADL holds that vilifying Zionism—the movement to establish and maintain a Jewish state in Israel—is a form of antisemitism. In contrast, the Nexus Project promotes definitions that do not include opposition to Israeli state policies. Similarly, as the National Education Association considered a resolution prohibiting the use of ADL educational resources, Spitalnick noted that "one does not need to align with the ADL on every issue."
Philanthropic Sector Response
Andrés Spokoiny, President and CEO of the Jewish Funders Network, estimated that the philanthropic sector has dedicated hundreds of thousands of dollars to countering antisemitism, regardless of definition. Other high-profile efforts include the $25 million "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" ad campaign launched by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft in March 2023 through his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. However, the persistence of antisemitism has left some funders questioning their approaches. "There's a lot of perplexity around what actually works," Spokoiny said. "So many funders are very frustrated."
