Overview

• Recent tax filings indicate the endowment balance has remained at $1 million since the 2021 groundbreaking despite a $470 million pledge.
• The city’s use agreement gives the Obama Foundation exclusive control of 19.3 acres in Jackson Park for nearly a century in exchange for $10.
• The foundation says it has spent more than $615 million on construction so far, while outside reports put total costs at $850 million or more and describe slow progress.
• The Obama Foundation says the center is fully funded, plans significant endowment investments in the coming years, and is slated to open in spring 2026.
• Filings also show $2 million to the Tides network and more than $3 million to Gofundme.org in 2022–2023 as Fox described volatile revenue, fundraising shortfalls, and unfulfilled pledges.