16 Donors Gave $122 Million to George W. Bush Foundation
The George W. Bush Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, raised more than $341 million in funds from 2006 to 2011 to build the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which was dedicated today, and support the programs of the George W. Bush Institute. In 2010-2011, the foundations tax returns show half of the funds came from 16 donors. Figures for 2012 are not yet available.
Under current law, the foundation does not have to release the names of the donors but it has made public its tax returns for CY2010 and CY2011. These returns indicate the foundation raised $341 million in 2006-2011. The returns show the foundation raised $27.5 million from 2006 to 2008, while George W. Bush was still in office. In 2009, the foundation raised $152 million. In 2010, the foundation raised $161 million, with $84 million coming from seven donors, including one giving $34 million and another giving $25 million. In 2011, the foundation raised $77 million, with nine donors giving $38 million, including one that gave $10 million.
Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., R-Tenn., has introduced a bill (H.R. 1133) to require any organization that raises funds for a presidential library to disclose the donors. Duncan first proposed the bill in 1999.