George Soros Fund Appoints New Leader to Oversee U.S. Grants

George Soros’s philanthropy network today named Kenneth H. Zimmerman, a civil-rights lawyer and former Obama administration official, to oversee its U.S. operations.

Mr. Zimmerman, who starts in July, is part of a second generation of leadership at the Open Society Foundations. Also next month, a new president, Christopher Stone, will replace Aryeh Neier, its president of 19 years. (See this profile of Mr. Soros and learn how he is thinking about leadership transitions now that he is in his 80s.)

Mr. Zimmerman’s legal work has focused on preventing discriminatory housing practices. He served as senior adviser to Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, chief counsel to former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, and executive director of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he currently leads the pro bono work of law firm Lowenstein Sandler.

“Philanthropy offers a remarkable vehicle to combine vision and resources to further our country’s core principles of fairness and opportunity,” Mr. Zimmerman said in a statement. “It is a privilege to join an organization that has been at the forefront of working to make these ideals a reality for all people and all communities.”

The U.S. arm of the Open Society Foundations gives out more than $100-million each year to groups working in criminal justice, education, government accountability, racial equity, and other fields.

It has been run for the past year by Diana Morris. She took over on a temporary basis from Ann Beeson, another civil-rights lawyer, who served at the foundations for four years.

Send an e-mail to Caroline Preston.