# Open Society Foundations opens Ukraine Democracy Fund with initial $25 million pledge

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/03/04/open-society-foundations-opens-ukraine-democracy-fund-with-initial-25-million-pledge/
- Published: 2022-03-04T11:31:53+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Open Society Foundations is launching the Ukraine Democracy Fund with an initial
pledge of $25 million to launch the Ukraine Democracy Fund, and is seeking more 
funders to join it.**

The aim of the fund is to join with private foundations, philanthropists, and the
private sector to raise $100 million to support Ukraine.

It has three goals:

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 1. Supporting Ukrainian civil society during the current conflict and its aftermath,
    which since 1990, has played a key role in the country’s democratic development—
    from fighting corruption to defending independent media and the rights of citizens.
 2. Advancing international efforts to defend Ukraine’s freedom and independence, to
    battle authoritarianism, and to enhance international accountability efforts through
    credible documentation of war crimes. This will include resources for investigative
    journalists, artists, and scholars, as well as for research and advocacy groups
    who speak out for human rights and the rule of law across the region.
 3. Protecting human dignity by supporting humanitarian aid for those beyond the reach
    of other relief efforts, as well as bolstering public health work, protecting and
    welcoming refugees, and eventually post-conflict reconstruction.

> We're committing $25 million to the new Ukraine Democracy Fund to support Ukrainian
> civil society, international solidarity with Ukraine, and the dignity of those
> displaced and affected by the conflict. This builds on our work in the country
> since 1990. [https://t.co/IS3YP7PQxC](https://t.co/IS3YP7PQxC)
> — Open Society Foundations (@OpenSociety) [March 4, 2022](https://twitter.com/OpenSociety/status/1499648340178489347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Alex Soros, Deputy Chair of the [Open Society Foundations](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/)
said:

> “We have one simple message: we will never abandon Ukraine. As Putin tries to 
> wipe the country off the map, we will do all we can for the people of Ukraine.
> We urge others to step forward and join us.”

Oleksandr Sushko, Executive Director of its Kyiv-based International Renaissance
Foundation commented:

> “This has been a time of horror in Ukraine. At the same time, I feel great pride
> in seeing how Ukraine, Europe, and much of the world are standing against Putin’s
> aggression. We will keep defending freedom and the pillars of democracy here and
> across the globe.”

Founded by George Soros, the Open Society Foundations describes itself as the world’s
largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance,
and human rights. It has been working in Ukraine through the International Renaissance
Foundation since 1990.