The speaking circuit has not just been lucrative for the Clintons — it’s been a windfall for their family’s charitable foundation as well.
Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton raised between $12 and 26 million for Clinton Foundation since 2002, according to a disclosure made by the foundation Thursday evening. The foundation revealed only broad ranges for speeches.
Under pressure to release the information after campaign finance forms last week showed that Bill and Hillary Clinton made $30 million for themselves in public appearances, the foundation released information on almost 100 speeches that benefited the charity.
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For these appearances, the Clintons had their fee go directly to the charity founded by the former president. His wife and daughter later joined the board, though Hillary Clinton resigned last month when she announced her presidential bid.
The Clintons’ speaking fees ranged from $10,000 to as much as $1 million.
The list includes 23 universities and colleges, where the Clintons’ hefty fees have become controversial, especially at public institutions. Some alumni felt the educational establishments had better uses for their funds.
Among the biggest spenders were Wall Street giants like Citibank, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan, each of which paid between $250,000 and $500,000 for Hillary Clinton speeches.
Bill Clinton was responsible for the vast majority of the engagements — 72 – while Hillary Clinton gave 16 speeches. Chelsea Clinton gave nine, including one to the Zero Emission Resource Organisation for between $100,001 to $250,000.
The foundation touts the disclosure as an example of its commitment to transparency. “In addition to the more than 300,000 donors who are all listed on our website, posting these speeches is just another example of how our disclosure policies go above and beyond what’s required of charities,” said Foundation spokesperson Craig Minassian.
Charities are not required by law to disclose donors, but the Clinton Foundation has done so since 2008, when Hillary mounted her first presidential run.
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“This funding allows the Foundation to effectively and efficiently use our resources to implement programs that are fighting HIV/AIDS and childhood obesity, increasing opportunity for women and girls, lifting people out of poverty and combating climate change,” Minassian added.
The foundation added that it will update this figure quarterly starting in July, the same way it discloses donors and grants.
Alex Seitz-Wald