Former VP launches Biden Foundation

The Biden Foundation will focus on many of the issues former Vice President Joe Biden advocated for over the decades in elected office.

From fighting cancer and violence against women to supporting U.S. military service members and their families, the Biden Foundation will be an extension of the former VP’s work in D.C. 

“We look forward to this new chapter where we will continue our work to ensure that everyone—no matter their income level, race, gender, age, or sexuality—is treated with dignity and gets a fair shot at achieving the American Dream,” said Biden and his wife Jill in a statement. “We are honored that a group of long-time friends and supporters have begun the work of founding the Biden Foundation to build on our lifelong commitment to issues that have always motivated us.”

Former Biden aide Ted Kaufman will lead the foundation along with Biden’s sister Valerie Biden Owens. Kaufman was appointed to Biden’s U.S. Senate seat after Biden was elected VP in 2008. “I am honored that Vice President Biden has asked me to lead the development of the Biden Foundation,” Kaufman said. “The foundation’s mission is to further [Biden’s] legacy by providing the public with policy analysis and educational programming focused on the core values of equality and opportunity that Vice President and Dr. Biden have devoted their lives to.”

The areas the foundation will focus on include Biden’s cancer initiative, supporting equality for all, ensuring that the Violence Against Women Act is fully realized, supporting members of the military and their families, as well as increasing access to high quality affordable education.

The Biden Foundation is incorporated in Delaware as a 501(c)3 nonprofit and will be funded by donations.

In addition to the foundation, Biden also plans to partner with the University of Delaware and the University of Pennsylvania. Last month, he said he hopes do some teaching at UD while also working on domestic and environmental policy. At Penn, Biden will focus on diplomacy, foreign policy and national security.