Architects and Location
Who will design the Obama Presidential Center?
The Obama Presidential Center will be designed by award-winning firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners, with Chicago firm Interactive Design Architects (IDEA). Learn more about the team here.
Where will the the Obama Presidential Center be located?
The Obama Presidential Center will be located on Chicago’s South Side in Jackson Park.
Foundation Activities
What is included in the Presidential Center?
The campus will include a free observation deck; a branch of the Chicago Public Library; an auditorium; children’s recreation areas and a sledding hill; new walking and biking trails; a public plaza for community gatherings, performances and celebrations; and a program, activity, and athletic center.
What is NARA’s role in the Presidential Center?
The Obama Presidential Center will be paid for and managed by the Foundation. A substantial number of the records and artifacts on display will be on loan to the Foundation by NARA, allowing visitors to engage with presidential items as they do at other NARA-run presidential museums.
How will the Foundation engage the community in the development of the Center?
The Foundation is humbled by the community’s enthusiasm and support for the Presidential Center. The Foundation has already engaged community leaders and looks forward to expanding the conversation. In the meantime, you can submit thoughts and ideas by filling out the form on our homepage or emailing info@obamapresidentialfoundation.org.
What is the role of the University of Chicago?
The Obama Foundation will be responsible for all aspects of the building, construction, design, and planning processes for the Obama Presidential Center. The University of Chicago first proposed locating the future Center on the South Side. As a future neighbor and collaborator on the Center, the University has pledged staff time and expertise to the Foundation for its planning work and will provide temporary office space off campus for the Foundation.
How will Columbia University, the state of Hawaii, the University of Illinois – Chicago, and other institutions be involved?
The Foundation is at the beginning of a process to identify academic institutions, thought leaders, community partners, and other organizations with which the Foundation will partner to advance its mission.
The Foundation intends to maintain a presence at Columbia University for the purpose of exploring and developing opportunities for a long-term association. In addition, the Foundation will work with the state of Hawaii to establish a lasting presence in Honolulu. Within Chicago, in addition to its association with the University of Chicago, the Foundation also plans to collaborate with the University of Illinois – Chicago.
Fundraising
How will the Obama Foundation pay for the Presidential Center?
The Obama Foundation will raise all of the funds needed for construction of the project; neither taxpayer funds nor university funds will be used in the construction of the Obama Presidential Center. Once completed, the Foundation will provide NARA with an endowment equivalent to 60% of the total cost of all portions of the facility transferred to NARA. The Foundation will be responsible for funding and operating the rest of the Center.
What are the guidelines for donations to the Foundation?
The Barack Obama Foundation has been recognized as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service; donations are deductible as charitable contributions.
In addition, the Foundation discloses all donors and donations over $200 on a quarterly basis. The disclosures are made public on this website.
Is my donation secure?
Yes. When accepting payments The Barack Obama Foundation and its vendors adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover to protect cardholder data through encryption and strict access controls. The Foundation and its vendors perform regularly scheduled reviews to confirm adherence to these standards.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
The Barack Obama Foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to The Barack Obama Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Upon completion of your donation, we will send an email donation receipt as your official record. Please save or print this receipt for your financial records as it may be useful to you when completing your tax return.
Will I receive a receipt?
A donation receipt will be sent to you at the email address you provide on this form. Please be sure to keep a copy of your receipt for tax purposes. If you select a recurring donation, you will be sent an individual receipt each month when your donation is processed.
How can I cancel or change a recurring donation?
If you’d like to change your contribution amount or cancel your recurring transaction, please visit https://support.obama.org/account/ Opens in a new tab .
Where do I go if I have a question about my donation?
Please direct any questions or concerns regarding your donation to donate@obama.org Opens in a new tab or (773) 420-1660.
State Fundraising Disclosure Statement
Financial and other information about The Barack Obama Foundation’s purpose, programs, and activities can be obtained by contacting the Correspondence Associate at 5235 S. Harper Court, Suite 1140, Chicago, IL, 60615, and (773) 420-1660, and obama.org/contact-us Opens in a new tab , or for residents of the following states, as stated below.
Florida: SC No. CH42061 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA OR VIA THE INTERNET AT www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com Opens in a new tab .
Maryland: For the cost of postage and copying, from the Secretary of State.
Michigan: MICS No. 52202
Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of The Barack Obama Foundation may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 601-359-1599.
New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm Opens in a new tab .
New York: Upon request, from the Attorney General Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989 (within North Carolina) or (919) 807-2214 (outside of North Carolina).
Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of the The Barack Obama Foundation may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999.
Virginia: From the State Office of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218.
Washington: From the Secretary of State at 360-725-0378.
West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DEDUCTIBLE FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. REGISTRATION IN A STATE DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION OF THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION BY THE STATE.