Open Society Foundations is now accepting applications for fellowships which will explore "innovative and unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges."

The fellowship funds work that will enrich public understanding of those challenges and stimulate far-reaching and probing conversations within the Open Society Foundations and in the world.

A fellowship project might identify a problem that has not previously been recognized, develop new policy ideas to address familiar problems, or offer a new advocacy strategy. Project themes should cut across at least two areas of interest to the Open Society Foundations. Among these are human rights, government transparency, access to information and to justice, and the promotion of civil society and social inclusion.

Their Open Society Fellowship Guidelines provide additional details on the award. Also read their Tips for a Robust Proposal. This award is valued at $80,000 to $100,000 or its equivalent in terms of cost of living in the recipient's country.

The application deadline is February 1, 2013.

Also see their Grants page for even more awards that might be relevant to your research area.