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The Barack Obama Foundation
Also known as The Obama Foundation
The Barack Obama Foundation reported $209.8 million in revenue and $91.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $55.91 went to program services, $18.24 to management and general costs and $25.85 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 92.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $755,862 (DIRECTOR/CEO). 163 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 48% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $91MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $210MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 55.9% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.2% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 25.8% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 92.9% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $755,862 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.83% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 163 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 140.6 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 16 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseObama 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 residential program that brings together academic, skills-based, and hands-on learning. For the 2023-2024 school year, the scholars program included 18 scholars at the university of chicago and 12 scholars at columbia…
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. Construction began on the athletic center ("home court") and by year's end the overall construction progress on the athletic center was approximately 40% complete. Interior fit-out work began on all four campus buildings. Activities also included advancing the museum component through accelerated…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTOR/CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $740,000 | $0 | $15,862 | $755,862 |
| EVP, OPC Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $610,195 | $0 | $40,554 | $650,749 |
| EVP, CHIEF LEGAL & PEOPLE OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $424,769 | $0 | $15,423 | $440,192 |
| EVP, STRATEGY & IMPACT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $397,992 | $0 | $25,066 | $423,058 |
| SVP, EXECUTIVE PROJECT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $371,232 | $0 | $25,066 | $396,298 |
| EVP, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $351,815 | $0 | $40,554 | $392,369 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $362,816 | $0 | $25,066 | $387,882 |
| EVP, GLOBAL PROGRAMS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $359,929 | $0 | $25,526 | $385,455 |
163 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Barack Obama Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b16 · 15 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5337
- Volunteers Part I, line 6750
Private foundation grants it received
75 private foundations reported grants to The Barack Obama Foundation totaling $37M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Barack Obama Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Barack Obama Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Barack Obama Foundation spent in 2024, $55.91 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumWashington, DC · revenue $199M · programs 72.1% · FY2025
- WGBH Educational FoundationBoston, MA · revenue $216M · programs 83.1% · FY2025
- Whitney Museum of American ArtNew York, NY · revenue $191M · programs 65.5% · FY2025
- Lincoln Center for the Performing ArtsNew York, NY · revenue $235M · programs 74.9% · FY2025
- Museum of Fine ArtsBoston, MA · revenue $187M · programs 58.6% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of The Barack Obama Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Barack Obama Foundation reported that 55.9% of its $91.4 million in expenses went to program services, 18.2% to management and general and 25.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Barack Obama Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Barack Obama Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $755,862, for the role of DIRECTOR/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Barack Obama Foundation get its money?
Of $209.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 92.9% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Barack Obama Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 46-4950751 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202532479349300228 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202432069349300303 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202322079349300402 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202242029349300304 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020 (amended), object 202222009349300232 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202001959349303650 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 46-4950751: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.