Biden Plans Delaware Presidential Library, Launches Fundraising Push/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former President Joe Biden will build his presidential library in Delaware, his political home base. A new 13-member board of allies and advisers will lead fundraising and planning. The project faces a challenging donor climate and aims to balance historical preservation with civic engagement.
Biden Presidential Library in Delaware: Quick Looks
- Joe and Jill Biden Foundation approves 13-person board to oversee project.
- Board includes Antony Blinken, Steve Ricchetti, Rufus Gifford, Cedric Richmond, and more.
- Private fundraising required; Biden’s donor network faces new challenges.
- Project expected to cost between Bush’s $43M and Obama’s $1.6B centers.
- Library will feature immersive museum, educational hub, policy events.
- Biden slower to launch library planning than most predecessors.
- Delaware chosen over Pennsylvania for deep personal and political roots.
- Delaware officials hail Biden as the state’s “favorite son.”
- Trump also planning library, using lawsuit settlements and foreign donations.
Deep Look: Biden Begins Fundraising for Delaware Presidential Library Amid Political and Donor Challenges
WASHINGTON — Former President Joe Biden has formally launched efforts to build his presidential library in Delaware, tasking a newly created 13-member board with fundraising, site selection, and programming plans for the museum and archive that will preserve his legacy.
The Joe and Jill Biden Foundation announced the board’s approval last week. Among its members are former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, longtime aide Steve Ricchetti, Democratic fundraiser Rufus Gifford (who will chair the board), former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, ex-OMB director Shalanda Young, and former Delaware Gov. Jack Markell.
“We’re not going to set goals we can’t hit,” Gifford told the Associated Press, acknowledging donor fatigue but expressing optimism about the project’s reach.
Fundraising in a Divided Political Climate
The Biden team faces a daunting challenge. Many traditional Democratic donors have scaled back political giving, while corporate and institutional backers — historically reliable for presidential libraries — may be reluctant to contribute under the weight of President Donald Trump’s relentless criticism of left-leaning groups.
The soaring costs of modern libraries also set a high bar. The George H.W. Bush Library opened in 1997 at $43 million, while the Clinton Library cost $165 million. The George W. Bush Presidential Center raised $500 million, and the Obama Foundation has targeted $1.6 billion for its Chicago center.
Biden’s project, still in early planning stages, is expected to fall between Bush’s and Obama’s totals.
Vision for the Biden Library
According to early outlines, the Delaware-based center will include:
- An immersive museum recounting Biden’s four years in office.
- A civic engagement hub, offering leadership programs and educational events.
- Event space for policy gatherings and public discussions.
Unlike his predecessors, Biden has been relatively slow to act on his library. Bill Clinton named Little Rock as his library site early in his second term. Barack Obama chose Jackson Park in Chicago before leaving office. George W. Bush announced Dallas’ Southern Methodist University as his site before his second term ended.
Biden waited until after leaving office in 2025, following his decision not to seek a second term.
Why Delaware, Not Pennsylvania?
Biden weighed his ties to Pennsylvania — where he was born in Scranton — but ultimately selected Delaware, where his political career began and flourished.
He moved to Delaware at age 10 when his father sought work, later winning a seat on the New Castle County Council in 1970. Biden then served 36 years in the Senate representing the state, before his vice presidency and presidency.
“Delaware has propelled his entire political career,” Gifford said.
Delaware leaders praised the decision. Gov. Matt Meyer called Biden the state’s “favorite son,” saying the library will showcase his story of resilience, family, and working-class roots.
Trump’s Library Plans Offer Contrast
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has charted a very different path for his eventual presidential library. Rather than public fundraising, Trump is using legal settlements from media companies and a donated $400 million aircraft from Qatar to support his future project.
He has hinted his library could follow the model of Ronald Reagan’s, which prominently displays a decommissioned Air Force One.
The Road Ahead
Biden advisers are consulting with directors of existing National Archives-managed presidential libraries (except the Hoover Library, currently under renovation) and the Obama Foundation. They are also in talks with Delaware officials on potential sites and partnerships.
While the Biden library is still in early planning, its launch signals a new phase in how the former president intends to shape his legacy beyond Washington — anchoring it in the state that defined his political life.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.