Fundraisers solicit White House ballroom pledge forms six weeks before contract is signed

Fundraisers begin soliciting contributions for the White House ballroom project around September 15, nearly six weeks before the formal Philanthropic Support Agreement is signed. Pledge forms sent to potential donors mention only that donations "shall be used in support of the White House Ballroom," with no reference to the full 90,000-square-foot East Wing overhaul. The solicitation begins without any signed legal agreement in place governing how money will be handled, how donors will be vetted, or how conflicts of interest will be addressed. The White House is later revealed to be responsible for identifying potential donors on behalf of the National Park Service and specifying whether each donor wishes to remain anonymous.