Even after starting the Presidential Library Foundation a year ago, former President Joe Biden is finding it tough to gather significant donations for the project, raising serious questions about its viability as an independent institution.
Based on a report from new york times, public filings and interviews with donors suggest that the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Presidential Library Foundation anticipates raising only $11.3 million by the end of 2027. This is a small fraction of what’s usually needed to create a modern presidential library. It’s worth noting that no new donations will be accepted in 2024, as the initial funding is mainly from a leftover $4 million from Biden’s 2021 inauguration.
As of late 2025, Biden hasn’t hosted any significant fundraising events for the library, with the first donor reception now set for this Monday in Washington D.C.’s Georgetown area. The foundation hasn’t shared its fundraising outlook for 2025, only mentioning that Biden is stepping up his fundraising efforts.
According to the new york times, Biden’s expected total of $11.3 million falls far short compared to other recent presidential initiatives. For example, the Obama Foundation has successfully raised over $1.5 billion for the expansive Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Even after facing cost overruns and some backlash from locals, over $850 million has already been spent on its construction, with an expected opening in 2026. Still, the foundation is navigating challenges such as a limited endowment and concerns regarding rising operational costs.
In contrast, the organization behind President Donald Trump is aiming to gather nearly $1 billion to establish a library in Miami. They’ve already acquired land and funding through lawsuit settlements and private donations, with the Florida Cabinet approving the project in September 2025, touting it as a major attraction in the city.
The struggles faced by the Biden Library Foundation seem to be exacerbated by donor fatigue and dissatisfaction among party supporters. Several prominent Democratic donors, including seasoned donor John Morgan, have shown a lack of interest or outright refusal to support, citing negative experiences with Biden’s staff. “He would be lucky to have a cell phone,” Morgan remarked to the new york times. Many donors appear hesitant to provide support, focusing instead on defeating Donald Trump or expressing disappointment with Biden’s presidency. In addition, Axios has reported that Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter has put off some Democrats, with many threatening to withdraw their backing for library initiatives.
The Biden Library Foundation is currently led by Rufus Gifford, a Democratic fundraiser and former U.S. secretary of protocol, with executive directors including two of Biden’s close aides, Annie Thomasini and Anthony Bernal. This past summer, the foundation hired a consulting firm, CCS Fundraise, to evaluate its financial situation. Moreover, the Bidens reached out in September to potential supporters to participate in interviews aimed at gauging interest in donations.
Considering the funding challenges, some of Biden’s supporters have suggested merging the future library with Biden-related institutions already established at the University of Delaware. The university has raised at least $22 million for Biden Hall, with $20 million coming from the state government. Such consolidation could potentially streamline resources and cut costs, although neither the university nor the Biden Foundation has commented on this possibility.
At this point, the Biden Library officially only exists on the National Archives website and as a legal entity formed in December 2024. A specific site in Delaware hasn’t been finalized, although discussions have mentioned Wilmington. The library is still significantly short of its $200 million fundraising target.
