Challenges in Funding Biden’s Presidential Library
According to recent reports from The New York Times, efforts to establish former President Joe Biden’s presidential library are facing significant hurdles due to slow fundraising efforts.
The Biden Library Foundation has informed the Internal Revenue Service that it estimates raising only $11.3 million by the end of 2027. This amount seems woefully insufficient for building out the legacy projects and maintaining the records of a sitting president. Furthermore, the foundation’s IRS filings indicate that it struggled to attract new donations throughout 2024, the last year of Biden’s presidency, with only $4 million remaining from his 2021 inauguration funds.
A spokesperson for the Biden Presidential Library Foundation has not responded to inquiries regarding the situation. The New York Times reported that while the foundation did not disclose how much it expects to raise in 2025, Biden assured that the fundraising efforts were just beginning. Biden’s aides reportedly aim to raise a total of $200 million for the library project.
Amidst these fundraising challenges, discussions have emerged about potentially merging Biden’s library with an existing Biden-affiliated institution at the University of Delaware, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
Moreover, some Democratic donors expressed doubts about contributing to Biden’s library. Their hesitance seems rooted in either a focus on opposing former President Donald Trump’s policies or lingering concerns about Biden’s single term in office. John Morgan, a veteran Democratic donor, candidly stated he wouldn’t donate “a dime” to the library, citing unfriendly interactions with some of Biden’s staff. He remarked that Biden’s team has negatively impacted the prospects for good libraries, quipping that “he would be lucky if he had a cell phone.”
In response to these issues, Kelly Scully, Biden’s press secretary, mentioned ongoing efforts to explore and plan for the library’s future. Biden is reportedly set to attend his first library fundraising event soon.
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama recently shared updates about his own presidential library, with the Chicago Presidential Center slated to open in June 2026. In comments to reporters, he suggested that Biden’s planned library development has not been entirely smooth.
