Former President Joe Biden has officially chosen Delaware, the state that launched his decades-long political career, as the site for his presidential library. The announcement, made on September 6, 2025, marks a significant step in cementing Biden’s legacy, as his team embarks on the daunting task of fundraising and planning for a project expected to cost several hundred million dollars.
The Joe and Jill Biden Foundation, which spearheads the initiative, recently approved a 13-person governance board to steer the project. The board is a who’s who of Biden-world, featuring former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, longtime adviser Steve Ricchetti, prolific Democratic fundraiser Rufus Gifford, former Delaware Governor Jack Markell, and other close allies and former administration officials. Rufus Gifford, who also worked in the Obama administration, will serve as chairman of the board.
The library’s vision is ambitious: an immersive museum detailing Biden’s four years as president, a hub for leadership and civic engagement, and a venue for educational and policy gatherings. According to CNN, the project aims to be "a living and enduring space where history, learning, and public leadership come together, inspiring future generations to act with purpose, to serve their communities, and to strengthen our nation.”
But for all the excitement, the Biden team faces a tough road ahead. Fundraising for presidential libraries has become a high-stakes game, with costs ballooning over the years. The George H.W. Bush library, which opened in 1997, cost about $43 million. Bill Clinton’s library came in at $165 million, while George W. Bush’s team raised $500 million before the library’s dedication. The Obama Foundation set a staggering $1.6 billion goal for its Chicago presidential center, which is slated to open next year.
Biden’s library, according to Gifford, will likely fall somewhere between the cost of the Obama and George H.W. Bush libraries. A source familiar with the planning told CNN the figure is expected to run into the hundreds of millions, but the exact budget has not yet been finalized. The project is expected to be less ambitious, at least financially, than the Obama Presidential Center.
Yet, raising that kind of money won’t be easy. The Democratic Party is currently grappling with internal divisions over its future direction, and many major donors have become hesitant to write checks. Gifford acknowledged the shifting political climate, telling The Associated Press, “There’s certainly folks — folks who may have been not thinking about those kinds of issues who are starting to think about them. That being said ... we’re not going to create a budget, we’re not going to set a goal for ourselves that we don’t believe we can hit.”
Donor interest is rising, however, as the Biden team ramps up outreach to supporters and seeks partnerships with other presidential libraries. The foundation has already met with officials from 12 of the 13 presidential libraries managed by the National Archives and Records Administration, skipping only the Herbert Hoover library in Iowa due to renovations. These consultations, as reported by Mezha.net and The Associated Press, are meant to glean best practices in programming and location, as well as to explore potential collaborations with Delaware leaders.
Private money, as is tradition, will fuel the construction and programming of the Biden library. The project’s immersive museum will not only chronicle Biden’s administration but also serve as a center for policy engagement and public service. Educational and event spaces are planned, aiming to attract visitors, scholars, and civic leaders from around the country.
Biden’s approach to planning his library has been notably slower than that of his predecessors. Bill Clinton announced Little Rock, Arkansas, as the site for his library just weeks into his second term. Barack Obama and George W. Bush both selected their library locations before leaving office. In contrast, Biden ended his bid for a second term 107 days before the 2024 election and only recently began the formal process of planning his legacy project.
Still, the choice of Delaware seems inevitable to those who know Biden’s story. He was first elected to the New Castle County Council in 1970, then spent 36 years representing Delaware in the Senate before serving as vice president under Obama. After his vice presidency, he launched the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware, focusing on domestic policy issues. Many of his Senate papers are already housed at the university. While Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania—a city that became a touchstone in his political narrative—Delaware is widely seen as the true home of his political identity.
Since leaving office, Biden has spent significant time in Delaware, developing new formats for public engagement and leadership. In May 2025, he announced treatment for an aggressive form of metastatic prostate cancer, but has continued to shape his legacy through projects like the library and ongoing work with the Biden Institute.
Local officials in Delaware have welcomed the decision enthusiastically. Governor Matt Meyer captured the state’s sentiment, saying, “To Delaware, he will always be our favorite son. The new presidential library here in Delaware will give future generations the chance to see his story of resilience, family, and never forgetting your roots.”
As fundraising ramps up and site selection continues—Delaware has been chosen but the exact location remains undetermined—the Biden library is poised to become a major element of the 46th president’s legacy. The project will not only honor his public service but also provide a space for civic engagement and leadership development for generations to come.
For now, the 13-member board faces a formidable challenge: raising hundreds of millions of dollars in an era of political polarization and donor fatigue. Yet, as Gifford and his team look to the future, the hope is that Biden’s story—rooted in perseverance, family, and service—will inspire the generosity and engagement needed to bring this legacy project to life.
