Even before the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum opened in 2005, its foundation created in 2000 has acted as if it owned a place paid for by taxpayers.
When executive director positions for the public institution have come open, the private foundation has paid for searches, then helped pay the chosen person's salary. Six years ago, the ALPLM warned that it might have to close due to lack of money as it launched a probe of contracts covering concessions, the gift shop and catering services that the foundation oversaw. Instead of the state selling tickets, money collected at the door has gone to the foundation, which greeted museum visitors and sold foundation memberships that came with free admission. Over the years, the foundation has realized nearly $79 million in revenue, according to Internal Revenue Service filings, while maintaining that it can't retire debt for stuff that may or may not be genuine.