Despite creating the presidential library foundation a year ago, former President Joe Biden has struggled to raise significant funds for the project, casting serious doubt on its future as an independent institution.
According to New York Times reportPublic filings and interviews with donors show 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 fund's seed money came from $4 million left over from Biden's 2021 inauguration.
As of late 2025, Biden has yet to hold any major fundraising events for the library, with the first donor event scheduled for this coming Monday in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC. The foundation did not disclose how much money it has raised in 2025, only saying Biden is now starting to ramp up his fundraising.
New York Times notes that Biden's projected total of $11.3 million lags far behind the efforts of other recent presidents. By comparison, the Obama Foundation raised more than $1.5 billion for its sprawling Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Center, despite cost overruns and criticism from Chicago residents, it is scheduled to open in 2026 and has already committed more than $850 million for construction. However, documents and financial disclosures suggested concerns about limited funding for the foundation's endowment and potential taxpayer liability, as well as rising operating costs.
President Donald Trump, who plans He is seeking to raise nearly $1 billion to build his library in Miami and has already secured land and funding through legal settlements and private donations. Trump's project was officially approved by the Florida Cabinet in September 2025 and is positioned as a major public attraction in Miami.
The Biden Library Foundation's difficulties appear to be compounded by donor fatigue and internal party discontent. Several top Democratic donors, including longtime package dealmaker John Morgan, have expressed disinterest or outright refusal to contribute, citing mistreatment by Biden staffers. “He’ll be lucky if he has a bookmobile,” Morgan told the newspaper. New York Times. Some donors said they were more focused on defeating Donald Trump or were reluctant to contribute out of disappointment with Biden's presidency. Separately Axios disclosed that Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter has further alienated some Democrats, as a number of donors have threatened to withhold support from the library's efforts.
The Biden Library Foundation is currently led by Rufus Gifford, a Democratic fundraiser and former chief of U.S. protocol. Its executive directors include two of Biden's closest aides, Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal. Over the summer, the group hired consulting firm CCS Fundraising to assess its financial prospects. The Bidens sent out letters in September inviting potential supporters to participate in a 45-minute interview to gauge donation potential.
Given the shortfall in funds, some of President Biden's donors have proposed merging the future library with Biden's existing facilities at the University of Delaware. The university 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 cut costs, both the university and the Biden Foundation declined to comment on whether a combination was being considered.
Currently, the Biden Library exists only on the National Archives website and as a legal entity, incorporated in December 2024. She has not chosen a specific site in Delaware, although locations in Wilmington have been discussed. The library's stated fundraising goal of $200 million remains far out of reach.
