Public documents reveal that millions donated to Barack Obama’s foundation have been channeled to a progressive fund backing anti-Israel groups and are allegedly linked to creating protests at Ivy League universities.
Specifically, the Obama Foundation, which aims to establish a 19-acre campus that will feature a museum, athletic facilities, and a community garden in Chicago, reportedly sent $2 million to the Tides Foundation in 2022 and 2023, as shown in recent federal tax filings.
According to a submission from the nonprofit, these funds were designated to “support local organizations working to reduce community violence.”
The Tides Foundation, funded by major Democratic donor George Soros, acts as a financial backer for various groups that choose not to register as charities with the IRS.
Currently, third-party grant-making groups are under scrutiny from the House Ways and Means Committee regarding their funding to anti-Israel organizations like the Adalah Justice Project, Samidoun, and the People’s Forum. These groups have played a role in organizing pro-Palestinian demonstrations and university camp activities following the October 7 attacks by Hamas, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties.
Additionally, the Tides Foundation processed a contribution from the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, which is taking legal action in California against the group for what it calls “malicious mismanagement” of over $33 million in their funds. This lawsuit remains ongoing.
Along with the funds sent to the Tides Foundation, the Obama Foundation contributed over $3 million to gofundme.org during the same period, based on submitted documents.
The foundation has indicated that the Obama Presidential Center is expected to be completed in the spring of 2026, with over $615 million already spent on its construction.
Despite receiving only $129,320 in donations in 2022, the foundation spent more than $27 million on salaries that year.
Among the highest-paid individuals is Valerie Jarrett, who serves as the foundation’s CEO and was a senior advisor to President Obama.
Robin Cohen, the executive vice president of the Obama Presidential Center, earned about $650,000 in 2023, according to tax returns. Cohen previously led the Pritzker Realty Group, which was founded by Penny Pritzker, a philanthropist and board member of the Obama Foundation. It’s worth noting that Pritzker, whose brother is the governor of Illinois, does not draw a salary.
The center, situated in Jackson Park on Chicago’s south side, covers 20 acres and is still under construction. The project, personally funded and launched in 2021, has faced numerous delays and has exceeded its initial $500 million budget.
Commenting on the center’s massive scale, many have expressed concerns about the prolonged construction timeline and the issues it may cause for the local community.
As of now, neither the Obama Foundation nor representatives for Barack and Michelle Obama have responded to requests for comment.
