In a surprising financial twist, millions of dollars donated to the Obama Foundation for a sprawling Chicago campus have been redirected to the Tides Foundation, a progressive organization linked to contentious anti-Israel groups, as the New York Post reports.
This development raises questions about the Obama Foundation’s allocation of over $2 million to Tides in 2022 and 2023, alongside scrutiny over hefty executive pay and construction delays at the Obama Presidential Center.
The Obama Foundation, established to honor former President Barack Obama, has been collecting donations to build a 19-acre campus in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side.
This ambitious project, which began construction in 2021, includes a museum, athletic facility, and gardens for fruits and vegetables.
However, federal tax filings reveal that $2 million of these donations were transferred to the Tides Foundation in 2022 and 2023.
The funds were reportedly designated to aid local groups focused on reducing community violence, according to the nonprofit’s records.
The Tides Foundation, which also receives support from Democrat donor George Soros, acts as a fiscal sponsor for organizations not registered as charities with the IRS.
Currently, Tides is under investigation by the House Ways and Means Committee for channeling money to anti-Israel groups such as the Adalah Justice Project, Samidoun, and the People’s Forum.
These groups are accused of orchestrating pro-Palestinian protests and campus encampments at Ivy League schools following the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which left 1,200 Israelis dead.
Beyond its ties to anti-Israel entities, Tides has managed funds for the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, which sued Tides in 2023 in California Superior Court over alleged mismanagement of more than $33 million.
That legal battle remains unresolved, casting further doubt on Tides’ financial practices.
Meanwhile, the Obama Foundation also allocated over $3 million during 2022 and 2023 to Gofundme.org for initiatives supporting girls’ education through grassroots efforts, though specific recipients remain undisclosed.
Back in Chicago, the Obama Presidential Center has already cost over $615 million, surpassing its initial $500 million budget due to construction setbacks.
The center, set to open in spring 2026, has drawn local criticism for its impact on the surrounding community.
Ken Woodward, a lawyer and local resident, voiced frustration earlier this year, saying, “It’s a monstrosity … it’s taking way too long to finish and it’s going to drive up prices and bring headaches and problems for everyone who lives here.”
