[3] The foundation's first president was Adewale Adeyemo, an economist and former Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economic Affairs who joined in August 2019.

[10] The planning process met with criticism from some local leaders who questioned the benefit for the surrounding area and did not feel the community was sufficiently involved.

[11][12] On February 26, 2019, Chicago residents voted to require a community benefits agreement in order to make the Center official, something to which the Obama Foundation has objected.

The scholarships are awarded to 25 American and international master's students in the Harris School of Public Policy in an effort to cultivate leadership through the Presidential Center.

[21] Barack Obama and Brian Chesky surprised the 2022 cohort via a Zoom video call to share insights into their public service journeys and to congratulate the students on their selection.

Its purpose is to address challenges and opportunity gaps that boys and young men of color face, providing support through mentoring, education, job training, and other activities.

[25] MBK Alliance operates the Model Communities initiative, which recognizes and provides funding and coaching for communities implementing evidence-based practices to meet six milestones: reduction of violence, increasing readiness to learn, reading at grade level by third grade, graduating high school, graduating college or vocational school, and finding employment.