President Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, has inspired millions worldwide with his vision of hope, unity, and progress. Serving from 2009 to 2017, Obama broke barriers as the first African American President, embodying the ideals of perseverance and possibility. His leadership was marked by transformative achievements, from expanding healthcare access through the Affordable Care Act to fostering global partnerships that addressed climate change and nuclear non-proliferation. Beyond policy, Obama’s eloquence and empathy ignited a collective belief in a brighter future, emphasizing the power of ordinary citizens to bring about extraordinary change. His journey from humble beginnings in Hawaii to the world’s most influential office is a testament to resilience, education, and unwavering dedication to the common good.
The Obama Foundation, established by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, continues this legacy by cultivating the next generation of global leaders. Through initiatives like the Obama Scholars Program, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, and the Leaders programs across continents, the Foundation empowers individuals to create lasting change in their communities. Rooted in the values of inclusivity, service, and civic engagement, the Foundation transforms ideals into action, building a world where empathy, opportunity, and justice prevail. With the construction of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago as a beacon of hope and inspiration, the Foundation embodies the belief that every individual has the potential to make a profound impact. Together, President Obama and the Foundation remind us that while progress may be gradual, the power to shape the future is always within our reach.
Our mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. That mission begins at home, on the South Side of Chicago, where we are building the Obama Presidential Center. But it extends to all our work. The Obama Presidential Center will be a catalyst for long-overdue investment in and around Chicago’s historic Jackson Park—bringing 700,000 people to the South Side every year, creating a new destination to move visitors from hope to action, driving other development in the area, and creating job opportunities for Chicagoans, especially for residents on the South and West Sides. We believe the Obama Presidential Center should be built by a team that looks like the Center’s surrounding community, and we’re working hard to make sure that happens. We hope you’ll join us.
Leaders Programme
The Barack Obama Foundation’s Leaders programs aim to inspire, empower and connect regional cohorts of changemakers to accelerate positive and lasting change in their communities and throughout their region.
My Brothers Keeper Aliance
To ensure all young people can reach their full potential, the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance focuses on mobilizing mentors, reducing youth violence, and improving life outcomes for boys and young men of color.
Fellowship Program
The Obama Foundation Fellowship supports outstanding civic innovators from around the world in order to amplify the impact of their work and to inspire a wave of civic innovation.
Scholars Program
The Obama Foundation Scholars Program gives rising young leaders around the world the opportunity to take their work to the next level through a curriculum that brings together academic, skills-based, and hands-on learning
Girls Opportunity Alliance
The Girls Opportunity Alliance continues the work of First Lady Michelle Obama to empower adolescent girls around the world through education. Learn how you can directly support the grassroots leaders working to educate adolescent girls today
The Voyager Scholarship
Created by President and Mrs. Obama and Brian Chesky, Airbnb CEO, the Voyager Scholarship provides financial aid, horizon-expanding travel, and connections to a network of leaders to students pursuing public service.
“I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible.”
As President Obama always says, the story of America is a story of progress, rooted in the great gift of our democracy—but we can’t afford to take either for granted. Both progress and our democracy itself are fragile. They depend on our constant engagement. And for all the true progress we have made together, there’s so much more we need to do to build an economy that’s fairer, a society that’s more just, a union that’s more perfect, and a democracy that not only weathers challenging times, but reflects changing ones. That’s why we’re bringing together leaders at this year’s Forum who are focused on cultivating a healthier discourse, building a more inclusive economy, reinvigorating institutions to encourage active citizenship, and promoting democratic culture around the world.
Today, technology is poised to fundamentally transform how we work, communicate, and connect in American society—and once again, our democracy hangs in the balance.
At the 2025 Democracy Forum, President Obama will join activists, thought leaders, and change makers to discuss the challenges that innovations like AI pose to economic and social inclusion, and what we can do about it. After all, when it comes to our democratic future, there’s no sideline to sit on.
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