The Barack Obama Foundation

Tax-deductible

Chicago, IL501(c)(3)Since 2014Arts & CultureEIN 46-4950751

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The foundation's mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world and to honor the legacy of president and mrs. Obama.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
56¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 291 volunteers and 191 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $134.3M a year · 68% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
56%
of spending
Worth a look: 56% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$6.2M
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 51% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
15 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 15.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $994K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$34.9M
3% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 3% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$209.8M
+49% vs prior year
Spent
$91.4M
To programs
56%
Net assets
$1.1B
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$209.8M
FY2024▲ +49%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$171.4M
FY2021$160.0M
FY2022$309.3M
FY2023$140.6M
FY2024$209.8M
Expenses
$91.4M
FY2024▲ +5%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$40.5M
FY2021$40.6M
FY2022$59.7M
FY2023$87.5M
FY2024$91.4M
Net assets
$1.1B
FY2024▲ +11%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$560.7M
FY2021$680.1M
FY2022$925.3M
FY2023$962.3M
FY2024$1.1B

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 2014.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

56 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 56% · $51.1M Management & general 18% · $16.7M Fundraising 26% · $23.6M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

32 people listed on the 990; $6.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Director/CEO
$740,000Pt VII · Sec A
EVP, Opc
$610,195Pt VII · Sec A
EVP, Chief Legal & People Officer
$424,769Pt VII · Sec A
EVP, Strategy & Impact
$397,992Pt VII · Sec A
SVP, Executive Project Officer
$371,232Pt VII · Sec A
$362,816Pt VII · Sec A
EVP, Global Programs
$359,929Pt VII · Sec A
EVP, External Affairs
$351,815Pt VII · Sec A

Valerie Jarrett’s $740K as Director/CEO is at the 49th percentile of top reported officer pay among 53 $100M+ arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Valerie Jarrett$740,000$740,000$740,000$581,305—
David Simas—$193,968$658,136$545,890$575,839
Robbin Cohen$610,195$613,100$613,136$495,877$518,282
Adewale Adeyemo———$83,077$540,000
Glenn Brown————$472,218
Alfreda Bradley-Coar$424,769$424,769$412,384——
Christina Tchen$397,992$400,000$184,615——
Lori T Healey$371,232$369,886$336,462——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See The Barack Obama Foundation executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Builds the Obama Presidential Center and runs leadership programs to inspire, empower, and connect people to create positive change in their communities.

Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $51.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Obama Foundation Programming

In service of the foundation's mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world, the foundation continued to work with young leaders in a variety of local, national, and global PROGRAMS.SCHOLARS: our scholars program supports leaders around the world who are ready to take their work to the next level via a one-year…

$27.5Mprogram expense
02

Obama Presidental Center

In 2024 the obama foundation construction activities included completing the museum building superstructure and the commencement and installation of approximately 45% of the exterior cladding (stone and GLASS/CURTAINWALL) across the museum, forum, and library buildings.

$23.6Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
See all 9 funders →
Grants paid · 92 grants · $39.0M · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$4,238,981
GofundmeorgCA · FY2024$3,454,197
National Archives Trust FundFY2024$1,500,000
John Jay College Foundation INCNY · FY2024$1,000,000
Chicago Park DistrictFY2024$1,000,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$4,019,389
GofundmeorgCA · FY2023$2,376,045
Tides CenterCA · FY2023$1,000,000
Chicago Park DistrictFY2023$1,000,000
Youthbuild Newark INCNJ · FY2023$800,000
Yonkers City School District Yonkers Public SchoolsFY2023$800,000
Impacttulsa INCOK · FY2023$800,000
National Archives Trust FundFY2023$750,000
Thrive Chicago NfpIL · FY2023$391,949
See all 92 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$209.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$194.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$14.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$11K
Money outPt IX
$91.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$51.1M
Managementcol C$16.7M
Fundraisingcol D$23.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$1.1B
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$116.5M
Total assetsLn 16$1.1B
LiabilitiesLn 26$34.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
32
listed · VII A
PaidVII A17
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$194.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$63.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$14.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$11K
Gains on assetsLn 7$4.2M
Total revenueLn 12$209.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$116.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$116.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$139.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$620.3M
Other assetsLn 15$6.9M
Total assetsLn 16$1.1B
LiabilitiesLn 26$34.9M
Net assetsLn 32$1.1B
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5191
VolunteersI 6291
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$192.4M$116.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$132.9M$139.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$398.0M$620.3M
Total assetsLn 16$986.6M$1.11B
LiabilitiesLn 26$24.3M$34.9M
Net assetsLn 32$962.3M$1.07B
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$7.1M$7.1M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$4.2M$4.2M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$3K$3K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$4.5M$2.5M$1.3M$808K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$31.5M$16.3M$7.9M$7.3M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.4M$735K$360K$316K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3.6M$1.9M$922K$811K
Payroll taxesLn 10$2.6M$1.4M$671K$590K
Legal feesLn 11b$585K$332K$113K$140K
Accounting feesLn 11c$264K$264K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$2.4M$2.4M
Investment management feesLn 11f$87K$87K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$8.8M$6.9M$1.1M$768K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$483K$483K
Office expensesLn 13$6.7M$120K$241K$6.3M
Information technologyLn 14$3.4M$1.2M$1.4M$902K
OccupancyLn 16$1.4M$934K$290K$167K
TravelLn 17$2.4M$1.2M$187K$1.1M
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$4.2M$2.8M$83K$1.3M
InterestLn 20$3K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.4M$961K$357K$48K
InsuranceLn 23$297K$174K$66K$56K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3.8M$2.3M$1.3M$189K
All other expensesLn 24e$72K$72K
Total functional expensesLn 25$91.4M$51.1M$16.7M$23.6M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $209.8M$91.4M$118.3M$1.1B 990 PDF
FY2023 $140.6M$87.5M$53.1M$962.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $309.3M$59.7M$249.6M$925.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $160.0M$40.6M$119.4M$680.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $171.4M$40.5M$130.8M$560.7M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $209,759,915 across 6 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $11,201 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$194,905,424
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$62,970,431
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$194,905,424
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $10,605,297$10,605,297
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $4,237,993$4,237,993
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $14,854,491$209,759,915
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $91,442,238 across 24 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $7,144,197$7,144,197
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $4,238,981$4,238,981
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $3,333$3,333
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $2,467,449 · Management $1,251,836 · Fundraising $807,885$4,527,170
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $16,304,227 · Management $7,935,016 · Fundraising $7,269,368$31,508,611
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $734,767 · Management $359,595 · Fundraising $316,162$1,410,524
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,883,979 · Management $922,018 · Fundraising $810,655$3,616,652
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,370,407 · Management $670,677 · Fundraising $589,672$2,630,756
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $331,825 · Management $113,126 · Fundraising $139,658$584,609
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $263,659$263,659
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $2,428,440$2,428,440
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $86,729$86,729
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $6,923,873 · Management $1,145,823 · Fundraising $767,571$8,837,267
IX-12 Advertising and promotionFundraising $482,791$482,791
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $120,274 · Management $241,103 · Fundraising $6,339,088$6,700,465
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,150,225 · Management $1,365,887 · Fundraising $901,513$3,417,625
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $934,414 · Management $289,913 · Fundraising $166,936$1,391,263
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,176,533 · Management $186,577 · Fundraising $1,063,317$2,426,427
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $2,826,752 · Management $82,674 · Fundraising $1,258,624$4,168,050
IX-20 InterestManagement $2,862$2,862
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $960,987 · Management $357,059 · Fundraising $47,790$1,365,836
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $174,462 · Management $66,469 · Fundraising $55,680$296,611
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,307,533 · Management $1,340,868 · Fundraising $188,836$3,837,237
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $72,143$72,143
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $51,126,361 · Management $16,681,891 · Fundraising $23,633,986$91,442,238
Part X · Balance sheet $1,106,193,451 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $192,413,497$116,520,489
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $251,945,329$215,998,398
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $3,787,068$6,532,985
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $397,960,900$620,303,709
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $132,935,177$139,901,672
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $7,540,784$6,936,198
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $986,582,755$1,106,193,451
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $19,788,156$31,236,121
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $3,066,667$2,336,667
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,398,540$1,344,954
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $24,253,363$34,917,742
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $657,447,799$774,979,224
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $304,881,593$296,296,485
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $962,329,392$1,071,275,709
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $986,582,755$1,106,193,451
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,071,275,709 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$209,759,915
XI-2 Total expenses$91,442,238
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$118,317,677
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$962,329,392
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$705,492
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$8,685
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$8,674,553
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,071,275,709

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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