Obama Center Seeks Unpaid Volunteers Despite $740K CEO Hire

The Obama Foundation is recruiting 75-100 unpaid 'Ambassadors' to assist visitors at the new Obama Presidential Center.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:38am

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The Obama Foundation is recruiting 75 to 100 unpaid 'Ambassadors' to greet visitors and assist guests when the Obama Presidential Center opens in Chicago in June 2026. This comes despite the foundation hiring a 'close friend' of former President Obama as the CEO on a $740,000 salary.

Why it matters

The use of unpaid volunteers at a high-profile presidential center run by a nonprofit organization founded by a former president has raised questions about labor practices and the allocation of resources, especially given the CEO's high compensation.

The details

The Obama Foundation is seeking to recruit 75 to 100 unpaid 'Ambassadors' to welcome visitors and provide assistance when the Obama Presidential Center opens in Chicago in June 2026. This comes as the foundation has hired a 'close friend' of former President Obama as the CEO on a $740,000 annual salary.

  • The Obama Presidential Center is scheduled to open in Chicago in June 2026.

The players

Obama Foundation

The nonprofit organization founded by former President Barack Obama to build the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.

Obama Presidential Center

A planned presidential library and museum in Chicago that will house artifacts and exhibits related to the presidency of Barack Obama.

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The takeaway

The Obama Foundation's decision to recruit unpaid volunteers while also hiring a close friend of the former president as CEO on a high salary has raised concerns about labor practices and resource allocation at the upcoming Obama Presidential Center.