Former President Joe Biden is reportedly facing significant challenges in fundraising for his presidential library. According to a report published by The New York Times, Biden’s library foundation has raised only a “small fraction” of the funds necessary for the project, currently projected to require $200 million. The foundation has yet to secure any new donations in 2024, relying instead on $4 million from his 2021 inauguration.
The foundation did not disclose the amount raised in 2025, stating that Biden is just beginning to actively seek funds for the library. By the end of this year, the foundation expects to raise only $11.3 million, a figure that falls significantly short of the pace set by other recent presidential initiatives.
Biden’s library project is not officially designated as a presidential library but rather a library center. In contrast, former President Barack Obama‘s presidential center in Chicago has raised approximately $1.5 billion to date. Additionally, former President Donald Trump aims to gather over $950 million for his planned library in Miami before leaving office.
Discussions about potentially consolidating Biden’s library with existing “Biden institutions” at the University of Delaware are reportedly underway. This move could leverage existing funds that the university has raised for a project known as “Biden Hall.”
Many of Biden’s longtime supporters express concern over the fundraising efforts. John Morgan, a prominent Democratic donor, stated he would not contribute to the library, attributing his decision to poor interactions with Biden’s team. He remarked, “The Biden staff, they ruined any type of good library for him. He’ll be lucky to have a bookmobile.”
Morgan contrasted his experience with that of other former presidents, noting that both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama maintained better relationships with their donors, which has helped them secure substantial support for their own projects.
In response to criticisms regarding fundraising, the Biden library foundation explained that it had delayed its fundraising efforts to conduct “intensive research” and assess other presidential libraries. Biden has indicated a preference for a smaller and less costly facility than Obama’s center, but specifics about its location remain vague, with Delaware being the only confirmed state of interest.
Biden’s library foundation and the University of Delaware have not confirmed any plans for a merger between the Biden Hall and the presidential library, although many supporters hope that combining the two initiatives might streamline efforts and attract more donors.
The University of Delaware has stated that it has not transferred any funds to the Biden library foundation and has refrained from commenting on potential project consolidations. As the foundation continues its exploratory phase, the challenges ahead for Biden’s library endeavor remain significant.
