Listen to the article
The Obama Foundation is seeking 100 unpaid volunteers to work at the $850 million Obama Presidential Center in Chicago when it opens this June. The volunteers, dubbed “ambassadors,” will work alongside approximately 300 paid staff members at the sprawling complex on the city’s South Side.
The recruitment drive comes amid scrutiny of the foundation’s executive compensation practices. Tax filings reveal that CEO Valerie Jarrett, a longtime Obama confidante, earned $740,000 annually in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Several other former Obama White House officials have secured six-figure positions at the foundation during the center’s development phase.
According to the foundation, the volunteer program reflects former President Barack Obama’s commitment to civic engagement, dating back to his early career as a community organizer in Chicago. Volunteers will primarily greet visitors, provide directions, and share information about exhibits throughout the 19.3-acre campus in Jackson Park.
“Volunteerism has been central to President Obama’s vision of civic life since his earliest days as a community organizer on Chicago’s South Side,” the foundation stated in a press release announcing the program.
The unpaid positions stand in stark contrast to the organization’s substantial payroll. Federal filings indicate that total compensation at the foundation has more than doubled from $18.5 million in 2018 to $43.7 million in 2024. During this period, staffing expanded to 337 employees as annual revenue approached $210 million.
While volunteer programs are common at presidential libraries and cultural institutions, the juxtaposition of unpaid workers alongside highly compensated executives has raised eyebrows. Several former Obama administration officials have held lucrative positions at the foundation, including former White House political director David Simas, who earned more than $600,000 annually while serving as CEO from 2017 to 2020, and Adewale Adeyemo, who received roughly $540,000 before joining the Biden administration as Deputy Treasury Secretary.
The presidential center itself represents one of the most ambitious post-presidential projects in recent history. The $850 million complex features a 22-story museum tower, athletic facilities, and a Chicago Public Library branch. Foundation officials project the center will generate $3.1 billion in economic activity over its first decade and has already created 5,000 construction jobs during its development phase.
Jarrett, who became CEO in 2021, emphasized the center’s role in showcasing Chicago to visitors. “The center will be a place where the world meets the best of the city of Chicago, and our volunteers will help bring that vision to life every day,” she said in a statement.
The foundation has highlighted its commitment to community impact, reporting that more than 50% of construction contracts have been awarded to diverse firms and that 33% of the construction workforce has come from South and West Side communities. Additionally, nearly 800 residents have enrolled in construction pre-apprenticeship programs connected to the project.
The Obama Presidential Center is scheduled to open on Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Unlike traditional presidential libraries operated by the National Archives, the Obama Center will be privately run by the foundation, giving it greater control over programming and operations.
The volunteer program is expected to expand after the center’s opening, with ambassadors serving as representatives of the foundation’s values both on-site and in the broader community.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
I appreciate the goal of civic engagement, but the pay disparity between the volunteers and top staff is concerning. Seems like a missed opportunity to create well-paid, meaningful jobs in the local community. Curious to hear more about the volunteer program and how it aligns with Obama’s vision.
Interesting to see the Obama Center seeking volunteers, but the high executive pay is a bit perplexing. Curious to learn more about how this volunteer program aligns with the center’s overall mission and priorities.
The volunteer program seems like a good way to engage the community, but the executive salaries raise some questions. Hoping there’s a clear explanation for the compensation levels that aligns with the center’s goals and values.
The volunteer program sounds like a positive way to involve the community, but the executive salaries raise some eyebrows. Hoping there’s a thoughtful rationale behind the compensation levels that aligns with the center’s goals and values.
Interesting to see the Obama Presidential Center seeking unpaid volunteers. Curious to learn more about the role and responsibilities of these ‘ambassadors’. While the high executive salaries are notable, it’s good the center is aiming to engage the community through volunteerism.
The volunteer program sounds like a way to get the community involved, but the high executive salaries raise some questions. Curious to learn more about the reasoning behind the compensation levels and how the volunteer roles will complement the paid staff. Hoping there’s a good balance struck between community engagement and fair wages.
Volunteerism can be a great way to get the community involved, but the high executive pay is a bit concerning. Curious to learn more about the center’s approach to balancing civic engagement with fair compensation for its staff.
Engaging the community through volunteerism is a laudable goal, but the executive salaries are quite high. Hoping there’s a way to strike a better balance between civic participation and fair compensation for the staff.