Overview: The press tried to slap Alexander Soros with the “party boy” label, but the legendary financier’s son has made efforts to continue the family legacy of philanthropy and political giving. Through his Alexander Soros Foundation and role at his father’s Open Societies Foundation, Soros has funded a variety of liberal causes, from racial justice to human rights. He also launched a super PAC for Bend the Arc Jewish Action ahead of the 2016 election.
Location: New York, NY
Total Donated (2016-2020): $8,703,100
Top Recipients: Bend the Arc Jewish Action, Senate Majority PAC
Key Issues: Civil Rights, Racial Justice, American Jewish causes
Largest Donation to Date: $2 million to Senate Majority PAC
Profile: One of the younger Soros sons, Alexander attracted media frenzy and the label of “party boy,” but he was quick to follow in his father’s philanthropic footsteps. He started the Alexander Soros Foundation while working on his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley. The foundation gives primarily to liberal causes and started Soros on a path of social-justice-focused philanthropy. He joined the board of his father’s Open Societies Foundation in 2011, and currently serves as deputy chair. This summer, as the killing of George Floyd inspired protests around the country, Soros and his father committed $220 million through the foundation to racial justice organizations, including Black Voters Matter Fund and groups connected with the Poor People’s Campaign. Alexander is also heavily involved in Jewish organizations, launching the Bend the Arc PAC in 2015 to fund liberal candidates through a Jewish American lens.
Like the rest of his family, Soros’ political giving touches Democrats around the country. He consistently makes large gifts to Democratic Party funds like Senate Majority PAC and the DCCC. In 2016, he was one of the largest individual political donors of the election cycle, giving about $5.7 million to Democrats, and he remained in the top echelon of Democratic donors in 2018, giving $2.9 million to campaigns and PACS. Also in keeping with his family, Alexander’s widely distributed donations mostly fund centrist or establishment Democrats—notably to candidates like Elliot Engel, who lost a primary challenge to a progressive newcomer—and hasn’t donated to any members of “The Squad,” a group of four vocal progressive women in Congress.
Ideological Vibe: Soros is a reliable liberal, primarily giving to longtime Democratic Party members and skipping more progressive candidates—save for a couple of donations to Sen. Elizabeth Warren. With his largest checks going directly to party funds like Senate Majority PAC and the DCCC, it’s safe to say Soros prefers establishment liberals to the more radical newcomers.
Hits and Misses: Although Soros gave more than $5 million to the Senate Majority PAC over the last four years, Democrats have failed to take control of the Senate during President Donald Trump’s administration. Like his brother, Jonathan, Alexander Soros doesn’t appear to make large bets on particular campaigns, opting instead to give smaller donations to a variety of candidates and making larger gifts to PACs.
Looking Forward: Soros publicly committed to his father’s goal of getting money out of politics recently. We should expect Alexander to continue his giving to racial justice causes and the Democratic Party widely.
Relationships: Open Society Foundations—Deputy Chair; Bend the Arc Jewish Action—Board Member; Alexander Soros Foundation—Founder
Contact Information: N/A