Former President Joe Biden is facing mounting obstacles in his attempt to establish a presidential library, as fundraising efforts lag far behind expectations and longtime Democratic donors quietly step away.
Public filings and donor interviews reveal that Biden’s library foundation has raised only a small portion of what aides privately admit would be required to build a traditional, stand-alone presidential library. One veteran Democratic donor summed up the situation bluntly, telling The New York Times that Biden “will be lucky to have a bookmobile.”
Fundraising Effort Stalls
According to Internal Revenue Service records, Biden’s library foundation received no new donations in 2024, the final year of his presidency. The only reported funding that year came from a $4 million transfer from Biden’s own inaugural committee, not outside supporters.
While the foundation has not publicly disclosed updated totals for 2025, it has informed the IRS that it expects to raise just $11.3 million by the end of 2027. That amount falls far short of the roughly $200 million Biden allies have suggested would be needed to complete a full-scale presidential library.
Major Donors Opt Out
The fundraising problems seem to go deeper than ordinary donor exhaustion. John Morgan, a veteran Democratic contributor who once played a leading role in raising money for Biden, has declined to support the effort, pointing to strained relationships with Biden’s inner circle.
“The Biden staff ruined any chance of a good library,” Morgan said. “He’ll be lucky to have a bookmobile.”
Other Democratic donors reportedly say they were never contacted or are prioritizing political opposition to President Donald Trump over investing in Biden’s post-presidency legacy.
Scaled-Down Plans Under Discussion
With fundraising struggling, sources familiar with the planning say discussions are underway to merge the Biden library with existing Biden-related facilities at the University of Delaware, where Biden’s political papers are already housed.
Such a move would significantly reduce costs by sharing space and infrastructure with the university’s planned “Biden Hall.”
The University of Delaware has already raised at least $22 million for the project, including $20 million approved by the state government, though construction timelines have not been announced.
Foundation Leadership and Next Steps
Biden’s library foundation was incorporated in December 2024 and is chaired by Rufus Gifford, a longtime Democratic fundraiser. Its board consists largely of Biden aides and former administration officials.
In recent weeks, the foundation hired an outside fundraising firm to evaluate the project’s financial prospects. Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden have also begun personal outreach to donors, including a fundraising reception scheduled in Washington.
A Stark Comparison
Modern presidential libraries routinely cost hundreds of millions of dollars and depend entirely on private donations. By comparison:
- Barack Obama has raised more than $1.5 billion for his presidential center
- President Trump has stated his goal is to raise over $950 million for his planned library
Biden’s effort, by contrast, remains far behind — raising serious questions about whether his presidential legacy will ever receive the permanent home traditionally afforded to former presidents.