Obama Presidential Center Seeks 100 Unpaid Volunteers as Valerie Jarrett Earns $740K

The $850M Chicago facility promises $3.1B economic impact for South Side as it prepares to open in June.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:21pm

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The Obama Foundation is looking for 100 unpaid volunteers to work at the new $850 million Obama Presidential Center in Chicago when it opens in June. This comes as the organization's CEO, former top Obama aide Valerie Jarrett, earned $740,000 in 2024. The foundation says the volunteer program is a key part of its mission, with volunteers representing its values both onsite and in the community.

Why it matters

The Obama Presidential Center has been touted as a $3.1 billion economic catalyst for Chicago's South Side, but the use of unpaid volunteers raises questions about the organization's priorities and commitment to the local community, especially as top executives earn substantial salaries.

The details

The volunteer 'ambassadors' will greet and direct visitors, as well as share information about exhibits at the 22-story museum tower, athletic center, and Chicago Public Library branch. The foundation says the program will start with 75-100 volunteers and is expected to expand in the future. Meanwhile, tax filings show that Jarrett earned $740,000 in 2024, 2023, and 2022, while other former Obama administration officials have also collected six-figure salaries as foundation executives.

  • The Obama Presidential Center is scheduled to open on Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
  • Jarrett has been the CEO of the Obama Foundation since 2021.

The players

Valerie Jarrett

The CEO of the Obama Foundation and a former top advisor to President Barack Obama.

Barack Obama

The former President of the United States, whose presidential library and center is being built in Chicago.

Obama Foundation

The organization overseeing the development and operations of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Obama Foundation (Press Release)

“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.”

— Valerie Jarrett, CEO, Obama Foundation (Statement)

What’s next

The Obama Foundation plans to expand the volunteer program at the presidential center in the future.

The takeaway

The use of unpaid volunteers at the high-profile Obama Presidential Center, while top executives earn substantial salaries, raises questions about the organization's commitment to equitable economic development and community engagement on Chicago's South Side.