Who We Are

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The Soros Economic Development Fund is the social impact investment arm of the Open Society Foundations. Launched in 1997, the Fund promotes Open Society’s goals of building vibrant, inclusive, and equitable societies.
A health worker wearing full personal protection equipment taking a swab from a patient
A health worker tests a man for COVID-19 in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 24, 2020. Open Society and SEDF support efforts to remove barriers to testing and reduce vaccine inequity in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. © Patrick Meinhardt/Bloomberg/Getty

Vision

A woman washes a stack of aluminum pots
A domestic worker cleans pots in Bogota, Colombia. Over 60 percent of the global labor force works in the informal economy, and SEDF makes investments that advance economic justice and agency for these workers worldwide. © Raul Arboleda /AFP/Getty
SEDF envisions a world in which financial capital is responsive to societal needs; works in partnership with stakeholders; tolerates greater financial risk to increase social impact; and shares its returns more equitably with labor. We deploy investments—as catalytic capital—to enable markets to serve rather than subjugate societies, and to create economies that prioritize the well-being of people and planet.

Mission

Two mechanics work on a car part
A diesel mechanic works with a trainee in his mechanic’s shop in Limpopo, South Africa. © Gulshan Khan/AFP/Getty
The Fund uses investment capital to support the rights and opportunities of marginalized people and communities, often in ways and places that entail significant financial risk. We look to catalyze positive social and economic change, by acting in alignment with allies and partners, reinforced by the strengths and capacities of the Open Society Foundations.
We deploy investments—as catalytic capital—to enable markets to serve rather than subjugate societies, and to create economies that prioritize the well-being of people and planet.

Governance

SEDF is incorporated in Delaware as a 501(c)(3) organization and governed by a Board of Directors and an Impact Investment Committee. The Fund has staff in London, New York, and Nairobi.

  • Board of Directors: Responsible for fiduciary oversight of SEDF and for appointing the Fund’s Impact Investment Committee. 
  • Impact Investment Committee: Reviews existing investments, approves new commitments, and ensures any program-related investments we make are consistent with the charitable purposes of SEDF.


Our Approach

Our investments include seeding early-stage enterprises or businesses; scaling up enterprises with proven potential; and sustaining enterprises that need our support to continue delivering social value.
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Our Team

Meet the people of SEDF, who blend creative investment expertise with a deep commitment to social justice and open society values.
Meet our team