Politics
REPORT: Biden’s Presidential Library Falls Well Short Of Fundraising Goals
Former President Joe Biden has reportedly raised only a “small fraction” of the funds necessary to construct a presidential library, according to a report from the New York Times.
The former president has reportedly fallen well short of the $200 million construction estimate, with no new donations received in 2024 and fundraising efforts just getting underway. The foundation was seeded with $4 million in leftovers from Biden’s 2021 inauguration committee, and it anticipates raising a total of $11.3 million by 2027, which falls far short of the goal.
Discussions are ongoing to potentially merge the library project with existing Biden-related institutions at the University of Delaware to leverage additional funds and resources for a consolidated site, the New York Times reported.
The slow pace of fundraising stems from several challenges, including the fact that some of Biden’s most loyal donors have not even been approached for contributions, while others are reluctant to donate amid ongoing political battles. Some donors are more preoccupied with boosting Democrat candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, while others are reluctant to donate due to lingering dissatisfaction with Biden’s presidency, according to the report.
Longtime Democratic donor John Morgan, who has given millions to Biden’s campaigns, explicitly stated he would not contribute to the library because of how his term played out. “The Biden staff, they ruined any type of good library for him. He’ll be lucky to have a bookmobile,” he said.
Morgan contrasted the adamant stance with his recent discussions with former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama about potential donations to their libraries.
“As a point of contrast, Mr. Morgan said he had dinner with former President Bill Clinton last week to discuss a possible donation to his library for an expansion. Mr. Morgan said Mr. Clinton and former President Barack Obama kept much better relations with their donors and supporters, which has enabled them to build large foundations and libraries,” The Times reported.
When asked for comment, a spokesperson for the Biden Foundation declined to address the report, stating only that they are in an “exploratory and planning phase.”
The library is planned to be located somewhere in Delaware, Biden’s home state, though it may not function as a traditional presidential library and could instead be integrated into “Biden Hall” at the University of Delaware through a merger with pre-existing projects there.
Biden himself has said little publicly about the plans, beyond expressing a desire for the library to be situated in Delaware. His aides have indicated he envisions a smaller and more cost-effective facility compared to Barack Obama’s presidential center.
The report comes as Biden, 83, continues to undergo treatment after he was diagnosed with an advanced stage of prostate cancer this past summer. The cancer is hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management, and Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment as part of his care plan.
