The Obama Foundation has come under scrutiny for directing substantial funds to an organization with reported ties to anti-Israel advocacy. Federal filings revealed that in 2022 and 2023, the foundation provided $2 million to the Tides Foundation, a move that has drawn the attention of the House Ways and Means Committee.
The funds from the Obama Foundation to the Tides Foundation were earmarked to "support local organizations that are working to reduce violence in communities," according to the official filings. However, the Tides Foundation is a well-known recipient of contributions from Democratic mega-donor George Soros and operates as a fiscal sponsor for groups not registered as charities.
The controversy has intensified due to the Tides Foundation's association with groups like the Adalah Justice Project, Samidoun, and the People’s Forum. These organizations have been involved in organizing pro-Palestinian demonstrations and campus activities following the deadly Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli fatalities.
Further complicating matters, the Tides Foundation has connections with the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. The latter organization filed a lawsuit against Tides in California Superior Court last year, alleging "egregious mismanagement" of over $33 million. This legal battle is still unresolved.
Beyond the Tides Foundation, the Obama Foundation has granted over $3 million to GoFundMe.org in the past two years for undisclosed projects aimed at empowering girls through education. Simultaneously, the foundation acknowledges spending over $615 million on constructing the Obama Presidential Center, slated to open in Chicago in spring 2026.
Local residents have expressed their discontent with the presidential center's construction. Ken Woodward, a lawyer and father from the neighborhood, labeled the project as a "monstrosity," voicing concerns about increased costs and disruptions to the community's culture and landscape.
The financial operations of the Obama Foundation have also come under public scrutiny, with revelations that the center received $129,320 in donations in 2022 but spent in excess of $27 million on salaries. High-ranking board members, such as Valerie Jarrett and Robbin Cohen, have drawn criticism for their substantial earnings, which were detailed in the filings.
The Obama Presidential Center, a privately funded endeavor that began construction in 2021, has already exceeded its initial $500 million budget. This has led to backlash against former President Obama and George Soros for their involvement in the project and the broader implications of the foundation's financial activities.
Social media posts, particularly from Twitter user C3, have amplified accusations that the Obama Foundation is indirectly promoting violence by funneling money to the Tides Foundation, which then allegedly supports contentious groups such as Black Lives Matter.
Despite the allegations and the confusion arising from these financial connections, the full ramifications of the Obama Foundation's grants and the activities of the Tides Foundation remain to be seen. As the narrative unfolds, the ongoing investigation by the House Ways and Means Committee is expected to bring further clarity to the situation.
