The Barack Obama Foundation

Analysis

The Barack Obama Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Chicago, IL. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in July 2014, 12 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, The Barack Obama Foundation reported income of $140.6m and spending of $87.5m, leaving 38% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $141.3m to $140.6m (-0.5%), an average of -0.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 93%. Over the whole period it spent 31% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Barack Obama Foundation sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile, and in the 99th percentile within IL. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Associated Universities Inc ($134.2m), Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc ($141.1m) and Analytic Services Inc ($133.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 92% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $5.1m (5.9% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $27.4m. It paid $898k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $986.6m against liabilities of $24.3m, net assets of $962.3m. It reported 312 employees.