Former President Joe Biden’s efforts to raise money for his presidential library in Delaware have gone largely bankrupt. Biden has met serious resistance from major Democratic donors, with several otherwise bankable, high-profile donors refusing to open their checkbooks.
How the mighty have fallen.
More than half a dozen former Biden donors and fundraisers have refused to give to the library or would only provide limited amounts, citing frustration over his failed reelection campaign and concerns about becoming targets of the Trump administration.
“I want an $800,000 refund,” said donor John Morgan, who raised nearly $1 million for Biden’s 2024 reelection bid before the funds were given to Vice President Kamala Harris after Biden dropped out. “I don’t believe a library will ever be built unless it’s a bookmobile from the old days.”
The Joe and Jill Biden Foundation has established a 13-member board to oversee the library project, which seeks to raise between $200 million and $300 million. The board, chaired by former Biden campaign fundraising chief Rufus Gifford, has not set a formal budget for the Delaware-based facility.
Major Democratic donor Susie Buell said that while no one has asked for her donation, she is “not inclined to give to libraries.”
Another donor was more direct: “No way” they are contributing to the project.
“I’d like him to have some nice library,” one donor said. “I just don’t see that’s where I’m going to spend my money.”
The fundraising challenges stem from multiple factors, including resentment over Biden’s decision to seek reelection despite his rapidly deteriorating mental health that led to his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. Biden’s withdrawal from the race just 107 days before the election left many Democratic donors feeling their money was wasted when transferred to Harris, who lost to Trump in a landslide.
Some donors described personal interactions with Biden’s handlers as “so unpleasant they believed it would be difficult to ever raise significant funds” for the former president. Others complained about a lack of access to Biden while he was in office, saying they were asked to write checks but were kept at a distance by his handlers.
“It is my opinion no significant building will be built,” Morgan said, citing Biden’s age and medical issues. “Couple that with the perception that [the party’s] woes rest with his decision to seek a second term, and we have the Hindenburg heading straight towards us.”
Biden’s struggles contrast sharply with former President Barack Obama’s presidential center in Chicago, which has cost a staggering $850 million. The ongoing construction has angered local residents. The Obama facility has sparked controversy among Chicago locals who describe it as a “monstrosity” and blame it for driving up rents in the surrounding community.
Biden’s library board includes former Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and longtime adviser Steve Ricchetti. The exact location in Delaware has not been determined.
The fundraising challenges hint at concerns about Biden’s legacy within the Democratic Party. Liberal donors would prefer to direct their money toward winning future elections rather than memorializing what many view as a disappointing presidency.
The 82-year-old Biden also faces serious health concerns that could limit his ability to personally fundraise for the project. He recently underwent skin cancer surgery and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
Presidential libraries have become increasingly expensive over the decades. George H.W. Bush’s library cost about $43 million when it opened in 1997, while Bill Clinton’s Arkansas facility cost approximately $165 million. George W. Bush successfully raised $500 million for his Texas library before its dedication.
The price escalation has sparked criticism about presidential vanity projects, particularly as Obama’s Chicago center faces ongoing legal challenges and community opposition. Local residents have dubbed the facility a “concrete tomb” that displaces longtime community members through rising housing costs.
Having learned their lesson, many liberal donors are focusing resources on rebuilding the Democratic party’s poor election prospects rather than building a monument to a failed Biden presidency.