Obama Foundation Faces Scrutiny Over Executive Pay Amid Worker Unionization Efforts

The Obama Foundation is facing internal discord as a significant portion of its workforce pushes for unionization while simultaneously earning lower wages compared to the organization's top executives. In 2025, 172 employees at the private nonprofit received salaries exceeding $100,000, representing about half of its reported staff at the time. This comes as the cost of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has ballooned to an estimated $1 billion, nearly triple its original projection.

Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation and a former senior White House official, earned $771,000 in 2025. Her salary has increased significantly since she took the helm in 2021. Several other high-ranking officials within the foundation, many with ties to the Obama administration or campaigns, also command six-figure salaries. For instance, Christina Tchen, former chief of staff to Michelle Obama, received approximately $431,000, while Michael Strautmanis, a former aide, collected about $404,000.

The Obama Foundation has defended its compensation practices, stating that it pays employees competitive market rates and that its board reviews executive compensation annually. Emily Bittner, the foundation's vice president of communications, noted that the organization has over 500 employees globally, with roughly 300 based at the Center.

An analysis of recent tax filings indicates that the Obama Foundation has a higher proportion of employees earning over $100,000 than several other presidential nonprofits. The George W. Bush Presidential Center reported 37% of its staff above this threshold, followed by the Carter Center (29%), the Clinton Foundation (23%), the Reagan Foundation (13%), and the George & Barbara Bush Foundation (10%).

Brian Mittendorf, an accounting professor specializing in nonprofit finances at Ohio State University, commented that while the percentage of high earners at the Obama Foundation is higher than average for nonprofits, it might be explained by the organization's reliance on specialized staff. He noted that such organizations often require expertise that commands higher salaries.

Meanwhile, a segment of the Obama Foundation's rank-and-file employees, organized as Obama Workers United with AFSCME Council 31, are advocating for union representation. Their concerns include rolled-back benefits, increasing workloads, and the departure of experienced staff, which they claim exacerbates these issues. The workers have urged foundation leadership to respect their right to organize and to cease employing anti-union legal and consulting services.

The Obama Foundation has stated its commitment to the right of workers to organize and expressed a desire to work collaboratively with labor partners. The foundation also maintains that the Presidential Center's construction was privately funded and that its operating costs are covered by revenue and private donations, although public funds have contributed to surrounding infrastructure improvements.