The Barack Obama Foundation
The Barack Obama Foundation at a glance
In short: The Barack Obama Foundation gave $7.1M across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $1.2M), top state California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,140,864
- -23.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- -60.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,190,144
- +91.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000,000
- Total assets
- $1,106,193,451
- +12.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (48% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Barack Obama Foundation
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Barack Obama Foundation
Who The Barack Obama Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Gofundmeorg ($3.5M). Together the top 5 received $6.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,000,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
67 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 20 grants of 67 (30%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Barack Obama Foundation gives
- Giving grew 38% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.3M (2020) to $9.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $7.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gofundmeorg Redwood City, CA | Support Grassroots Leaders to Empower Girls Through Education. | $3,454,197 |
| National Archives Trust Fund College Park, MD | Digitization of Records | $1,500,000 |
| Chicago Park District Chicago, IL | Support for New Midway Playground. | $1,000,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,000,000 |
| YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | Support for Local Lunchbox Program. | $100,000 |
| Urban Alliance Foundation Inc Washington, DC | Support Youth with Professional Training and Employment Opportunities. | $86,667 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,106,193,451 | $209,759,915 | $91,442,238 | $7,140,864 | 6 | $14,843,290 |
| 2023 | $986,582,755 | $140,586,104 | $87,462,284 | $9,348,573 | 15 | $11,249,957 |
| 2022 | $944,959,493 | $309,284,239 | $59,708,464 | $4,353,903 | 8 | $-2,079,009 |
| 2021 | $693,835,698 | $159,957,411 | $40,550,456 | $5,174,151 | 16 | $296,653 |
| 2020 | $563,740,541 | $171,374,663 | $40,536,698 | $2,325,200 | 22 | $258,650 |
| 2019 | $439,375,134 | $141,308,493 | $54,783,253 | $3,194,000 | 14 | $1,667,055 |
About The Barack Obama Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Barack Obama Foundation is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.1B in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $7.1M. Net investment income was $14.8M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Barack Obama Foundation is led by Valerie Jarrett, Director & CEO on every filing since 2021; 17 of 32 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Valerie Jarrett
Director & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$581K (2021) → $740K (2024)
Adren Wilson
Executive Director, Mbk, Vice President & Youth Opportunity Prgms
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$252K (2024)
John Kevin Poorman
Director & President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martin H. Nesbitt
Director & Chairperson
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louise Bernard
Senior Vice President & Museum Director
Museum Director → Senior Vice President & Museum Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$233K (2019) → $287K (2024)
Roark Frankel
Director of Planning & Delivery
Director of Plan. & Construction → Director of Plan. & Delivery, 2021
Director of Plan. & Delivery → Director of Planning & Delivery, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$240K (2019) → $262K (2024)
David Plouffe
Director, Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glenn Hutchins
Director & Vice Chairperson
Director → Director & Vice Chairperson, 2021
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Rogers
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Juan Salgado
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julianna Smoot
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Sacks
Director & Vice President
Director → Director & Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Penny Pritzker
Director & Vice Chairperson
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Wolf
Director, Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sean Parker
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thelma Golden
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connie Ballmer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Demond Martin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Broderick Johnson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elisabeth Siciliano
Senior Vice President, Strategy, Governance & Risk
Vice President, Executive Office of Fdn. & Corp. Counsel → Vice President, Governance, Strategy & Risk, 2022
Vice President, Governance, Strategy & Risk → Senior Vice President, Strategy, Governance & Risk, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$199K (2019) → $291K (2024)
Michael Strautmanis
Executive Vice President & External Affairs
Chief Engagement Officer → Executive Vice President & Civic Engagement, 2021
Executive Vice President & Civic Engagement → Executive Vice President & External Affairs, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$282K (2019) → $352K (2024)
Robbin Cohen
Executive Vice President & Opc
Executive Director → Executive Vice President, Opc, Tech. & Strategy, 2021
Executive Vice President, Opc, Tech. & Strategy → Executive Vice President & Opc, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$573K (2019) → $610K (2024)
Jamie-Clare Flaherty
Vice President & Deputy General Counsel
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$233K (2021) → $290K (2024)
Laura Lucas Magnuson
Executive Vice President & Global Programs
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$178K (2021) → $360K (2024)
Lori T. Healey
Senior Vice President & Executive Project Officer
Senior Vice President, Opc Ops & Implementation → Senior Vice President & Executive Project Officer, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$300K (2021) → $371K (2024)
Alfreda Bradley-Coar
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & People Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$412K (2022) → $425K (2024)
Ammar Rizki
CFO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$192K (2022) → $363K (2024)
Caitlin Gilmore
Vice President, Fundraising & Development
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$254K (2022) → $273K (2024)
Christina Tchen
Executive Vice President, Strategy & Impact
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$185K (2022) → $398K (2024)
Rachel Rauscher
Vice President & Development Operations
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$254K (2022) → $271K (2024)
Charmaine Williams
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$305K (2023) → $306K (2024)
Daniel McGregor
Senior Vice President & Development
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$320K (2023) → $315K (2024)
Former officers (20)
- Former: David Simas (2019–2023) — President
- Former: Kori Schulman (2019–2023) — Senior Vice President, Creative & Communications
- Former: Mahalia A. Hines (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Gabriela Fraga (2021–2023) — Former Senior Vice President, Product & Technology
- Former: Jamie-Clare Pickens (2022–2023) — Vice President & Deputy General Counsel
- Former: Adewale Adeyemo (2019–2021) — President
- Former: Bernadette Meehan (2019–2021) — Executive Vice President & Global Programs
- Former: Jordan Kaplan (2019–2021) — Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer
- Former: Michael Smith (2019–2021) — Executive Director & Mbk Alliance
- Former: Ralph Leslie (2019–2021) — Senior Vice President & CFO
- Former: Clarissa Peterson (2020–2021) — Senior Vice President & People
- Former: Jennifer Casteller (2021) — Vice President & Finance
- Former: Shawn White (2021) — General Counsel
- Former: Addar Levi (2019–2020) — General Counsel
- Former: Anne Filipic (2019–2020) — Chief Program Officer
- Former: Glenn Brown (2019–2020) — Chief Digital Officer
- Former: John Doerr (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Mary Elizabeth Cisneros (2020) — Deputy General Counsel
- Former: Chris Wyant (2019) — Deputy Chief Program Officer
- Former: Deval Patrick (2019) — Director, Vice President & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $740K, to Valerie Jarrett (Director/CEO). 17 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Barack Obama Foundation
How much does The Barack Obama Foundation give each year?
The Barack Obama Foundation gave $7.1M across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $9.3M across 15 grants.
What is The Barack Obama Foundation's typical grant size?
The Barack Obama Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000,000, and its average grant was $1,190,144, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Barack Obama Foundation give grants?
The Barack Obama Foundation's top state is California, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Maryland (21%) and Illinois (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does The Barack Obama Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on The Barack Obama Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Barack Obama Foundation's largest grantees?
The Barack Obama Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Gofundmeorg ($3,454,197), National Archives Trust Fund ($1,500,000) and Chicago Park District ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,000,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Barack Obama Foundation?
The Barack Obama Foundation reported $1.1B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $209.8M.
What is The Barack Obama Foundation?
The Barack Obama Foundation is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $1.1B in total assets as of 2024.
What is The Barack Obama Foundation's EIN?
The Barack Obama Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4950751. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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