Donations To Biden Presidential Library Are Virtually Non-Existent: Report
Efforts to launch a presidential library honoring former President Joe Biden are already encountering serious headwinds, with fundraising numbers far below what is typically required for such an undertaking, according to a report from The New York Times.
Financial filings submitted to the Internal Revenue Service reveal that Biden’s presidential library foundation expects to raise just $11.3 million by the end of 2027 — a figure that pales in comparison to the hundreds of millions of dollars usually needed to construct a library and properly maintain presidential records.
The disclosures also show that the foundation failed to attract any new donations in 2024, Biden’s final year in office. Instead, the organization relied on roughly $4 million in leftover funds from Biden’s 2021 inauguration to stay afloat, the Times reported.
While the foundation declined to reveal how much it raised in 2025, it acknowledged that Biden only recently began actively soliciting donations. According to the newspaper, aides close to the former president have privately floated a long-term fundraising target of $200 million — a goal that currently appears distant.
As fundraising struggles persist, insiders have discussed the possibility of consolidating a future Biden presidential library with existing Biden-related institutions at the University of Delaware, the Times reported, citing four individuals familiar with the conversations.
Compounding the problem, some longtime Democratic donors are reportedly hesitant to contribute, even when personally approached by Biden. Those donors told the outlet they would rather direct their financial support toward opposing President Donald Trump’s agenda or cited lingering dissatisfaction with Biden’s decision to serve only a single term.
John Morgan, a veteran Democratic donor, bluntly dismissed the idea of contributing, blaming Biden’s inner circle for the project’s woes.
“The Biden staff, they ruined any type of good library for him,” Morgan told the outlet. “He’ll be lucky to have a bookmobile.”
Kelly Scully, a spokeswoman for Biden, attempted to downplay the concerns, telling the Times, “we continue to be in an exploratory and planning phase.” Biden has reportedly attended at least one fundraiser for the library, though financial details from the event were not immediately disclosed.
The fundraising challenges come as Biden continues to draw attention for public appearances that raise questions about his leadership legacy. During a speech at the International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., the former president appeared to struggle through his remarks, at one point declaring that “we’re the United States of Amerigotit.”
“We just have to get up. As long as we keep the faith … and remember who the hell we are. We’re the United States of Amerigotit, that’s who we are! We’re the U.S.!” Biden said.
Biden used the event to urge activists and lawmakers to “fight back” against the Trump administration, accusing President Donald Trump of undermining the Constitution.
“All of us are dismayed by the present state of the union,” he added. “This is no time to give up. It’s time to get up. Get up and fight back. Get up. Continue to fight. And what’s the fight all about? … it’s about protecting the Constitution. It’s about protecting the Constitution.”
He further accused President Trump and his supporters of seeking to “distort and derail our fight for equality” and to “further divide the country,” according to a Fox News report.
“They’re trying to turn it into something scary, something sinister. But folks, it’s really not about anything that’s all that complicated. At its core, it’s about making every American given the opportunity to be treated with basic decency, dignity, and respect they all deserve. That’s what every single American deserves, every American,” Biden said.
Just days earlier, Biden again found himself in the headlines after members of the Trump administration criticized his record on law enforcement and national security. FBI Director Kash Patel publicly rebuked the bureau’s failure to solve the 2021 DNC and RNC pipe bombing case, arguing that the lack of progress reflected “sheer incompetence or complete intentional negligence” during the Biden administration.
Taken together, the stalled fundraising, donor hesitation, and renewed scrutiny of Biden’s tenure underscore the challenges facing efforts to define and preserve his presidential legacy — especially as President Trump advances an agenda focused on accountability, constitutional governance, and restoring public trust.