Despite launching his presidential library foundation a year ago, former President Joe Biden has struggled to raise substantial funds for the project, casting serious doubt on its future as an independent institution.
According to a New York Times reportPublic presentations and interviews with donors reveal that the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Presidential Library Foundation expects to raise just $11.3 million by the end of 2027, a fraction of what is typically needed to build a modern presidential library. No new donations were received in 2024, and the foundation’s initial money came from $4 million in leftover funds from Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
As of late 2025, Biden had yet to hold any major fundraising events for the library, and the first donor reception was scheduled for next Monday in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. The foundation has not revealed what it raised in 2025, only stating that Biden is now beginning to fundraise more actively.
He New York Times notes that Biden’s projected total of $11.3 million is far behind the efforts of other recent presidents. By comparison, the Obama Foundation has raised more than $1.5 billion for its sprawling Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. the center, although cost overruns and criticism from Chicago residents, is scheduled to open in 2026 with more than $850 million already committed to construction. However, financial presentations and disclosures have . concerns about the foundation’s limited funding and the potential for taxpayer liability, along with rising operating costs.
President Donald Trump, who plans to build its library in Miami, it aims to raise almost a billion dollars and has already obtained land and financing through legal agreements and private donations. Trump’s project was formally approved in September 2025 by the Florida Cabinet and is being promoted as a major civic attraction in Miami.
The Biden library foundation’s difficulties appear to be compounded by donor fatigue and discontent within the party. Several major Democratic donors, including veteran funder John Morgan, have expressed disinterest or outright refusal to contribute, citing poor treatment by Biden’s staff. “You’ll be lucky to have a bookmobile,” Morgan told the New York Times. Some donors have said they are more focused on defeating Donald Trump or are reluctant to contribute because of their frustrations with Biden’s presidency. Separately, Axios revealed that Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter further alienated some Democrats, and several donors threatened to withdraw support for the library initiative.
The Biden Library Foundation is currently chaired by Rufus Gifford, a Democratic fundraiser and former US chief of protocol. Its chief executives include two of Biden’s closest aides, Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal. Over the summer, the group hired a consulting firm, CCS Fundraising, to assess the financial prospects. In September, the Bidens sent letters inviting potential supporters to participate in 45-minute interviews to gauge donation potential.
Given the fundraising shortfall, some of President Biden’s donors have suggested merging the future library with existing Biden institutions at the University of Delaware. The university has raised at least $22 million, including $20 million from the Delaware state government, to build “Biden Hall.” While such a merger could allow the library project to share resources and reduce costs, both the university and the Biden Foundation declined to comment on whether consolidation is being considered.
Currently, the Biden Library exists only on the National Archives website and as a corporate entity incorporated in December 2024. It has not selected a specific site in Delaware, although locations in Wilmington have been discussed. The library’s stated $200 million fundraising goal remains far out of reach.
