A number of prominent Democratic donors and fundraisers are reluctant to contribute to a planned presidential library for former President Joe Biden, according to reporting by NBC News that found more than half a dozen former major Biden backers declining or limiting donations.
People who spoke to NBC said their reluctance stems from several factors, including concern about becoming a target of the Trump administration, a desire to reserve funds for the Democratic Party’s future needs and negative experiences with Biden’s inner circle. Several donors also cited lingering frustration over Biden’s decision to seek re-election despite health questions that contributed to his withdrawal from the 2024 race and the party’s subsequent 2024 defeat.
Some donors voiced the reluctance directly. “I’d like him to have some nice library,” one donor told NBC News. “I just don’t see that’s where I’m going to spend my money.” Another donor responded “no way” when asked about giving. Personal injury lawyer John Morgan, who said he raised funds for Biden that went to former Vice President Kamala Harris, said he wanted an $800,000 refund and joked that he doubted “a library will ever be built unless it’s a bookmobile.” Donor Susie Buell told NBC she had not been asked for a donation and was “not inclined to give to libraries.”
Donors also complained about limited access while Biden was president, saying they were solicited for checks but struggled to get calls returned. People who regularly interact with major Democratic donors told NBC that the threat of retaliation from former President Donald Trump has made some donors cautious about high-profile contributions to Democratic causes.
The Biden library effort is seeking between $200 million and $300 million, according to a person familiar with the team’s plans, the report said. By contrast, the Obama presidential library project in Chicago was estimated to cost about $850 million. Rufus Gifford, chairman of the Biden library board and a longtime Democratic fundraiser, said he was optimistic donors would support an effort to protect and promote Biden’s legacy. “This isn’t about the past. It’s about the future,” Gifford told NBC News.
Democratic National Committee fundraising chair Chris Korge told NBC that it is a difficult moment to solicit large checks for Democrats because of how “vindictive Donald Trump is,” citing conversations with donors. Korge said he has urged Biden and his team to prioritize raising money for a library rather than pursuing a second-term campaign.
Meanwhile, Republican leaders have been raising significant sums for their own post-presidential operations. Former President Trump has raised millions for a future library, and political attention has focused on high-profile donations and gifts tied to those efforts.
How much support the Biden project ultimately attracts remains uncertain. Several donors expressed doubt that a substantial physical structure will be built, pointing to fundraising challenges and concerns tied to the former president’s age and health. The Biden team and library board have not disclosed a final site or timetable for construction, and plans remain in the fundraising and planning stage.