A reliance on private money to build the libraries and the lack of disclosure has, over the years, troubled advocates for greater government transparency. “This is completely unregulated,” [University of Louisville Professor Benjamin] Hufbauer said. “They can take any amount of money from any source.”
The Obama foundation has established some self-imposed limits. It will not accept donations from groups other than 501(c)(3) non-profits and will also not take support from foreign nationals, currently registered federal lobbyists or foreign agents. It plans to disclose all donors and donations over $200 on a quarterly basis. So far, the Obama foundation has disclosed the names of a small number of contributors who have donated more than $100,000.