Case Study: Open Society Foundations
The Challenge
Open Society Foundations (OSF) supports democracy, human rights, and social justice around the world. Their website needed to convey a clear, compelling narrative of their global impact while providing resources for donors, partners, and policymakers. Balancing diverse content—covering grants, project updates, and policy research—required a flexible yet cohesive structure that could adapt to evolving organizational priorities.
My role as Product Manager
I led a cross-functional team of designers, developers, content strategists, and communication specialists. While managing budgets, schedules, and team coordination as a producer, I also functioned as a product manager by:
• Synthesizing feedback from multiple OSF stakeholders (including regional offices and program leads)
• Defining and prioritizing content features based on user research and strategic goals
• Maintaining a clear product roadmap to guide updates and new feature launches
Planning and execution
I oversaw iterative development cycles that focused on specific content modules—such as grant application tools, interactive data visualizations, and storytelling elements spotlighting funded initiatives. Regular check-ins ensured each phase of development aligned with OSF’s mission and user needs. I also incorporated analytics to help guide decisions around content placement and functionality, ensuring visitors could easily navigate and access key resources.
Results
• Streamlined content structure: A reorganized site map and improved navigation helped diverse audiences (donors, grantees, researchers) quickly find the information they needed.
• Increased engagement: Clearer calls to action and compelling stories of OSF’s impact encouraged visitor engagement and volunteer participation.
• Cohesive brand identity: By creating brand-consistent design elements and messaging, the site clearly communicated OSF’s work and values on every page.
Why this project stands out
This project required a delicate balance between technical complexity and mission-driven storytelling. As a producer, I managed timelines and resources; as a product manager, I guided feature prioritization and user-centric refinements. This dual perspective ensured the Open Society Foundations website effectively showcased its global mission and made it easier for stakeholders to learn about, support, and engage with its critical initiatives.