The Two Fronts of Burning Man Project’s Inflection Point

Earlier this morning, Burning Man Project CEO Marian Goodell emailed an end-of-year update to the Burning Man community — it contains updates about our end-of-year fundraising campaign plus a bunch of info about the year ahead. We’ve shared it here in its entirety. Please give it a read and help us keep Burning Man alive!

Dear Burning Man community, 

Here we are two weeks before the end of the calendar year. Thank you to all of you who have sent words of encouragement, donations, and pledges to participate in Burning Man and bring more joy, awe, art and engagement to the world.

Let me give an update as to where we are so far in our year-end fundraising effort, and what’s in store.

We started 2024 with a commitment to raise $10M philanthropically. This was up 20% from the $8.2M raised in 2023. Due to the ticket sales shortfall to Black Rock City in 2024, we found ourselves needing to make mission-aligned budget adjustments and raise the remaining deficit to the tune of approximately $10M — this, in addition to the initial $10M goal.

We cut expenses, reduced the year-round workforce, deferred some payments, got reductions on our office rentals, and doubled down on our commitment to do more to bring Burning Man and Black Rock City to the world, not less.

Burning Man is like nothing else in the world. There is no other mass gathering the size and length of Black Rock City that, driven by Principles including participation, gifting, and inclusion, creates such awe and joy — all without corporate sponsorship, vending and merchandise to subsidize the operation. Much bigger than an event or festival, Burning Man is a global cultural movement that is already benefiting the world.

So, how do we sustain it, and get more Burning Man out there?

We have dedicated and passionate donors and supporters. Thank you. With your support, we will continue to lean into what Burning Man Project is:

A global arts and culture nonprofit that needs year-round philanthropic support to accomplish our mission to facilitate and extend Burning Man culture to the world.

This is the first front of our inflection point: leaning into philanthropy to bring more belonging, connection and creativity to the world.

We launched a $3M December Community Campaign on Nov. 25. Now, thanks to the generosity of enthusiastic donors, we are able to offer a match to your donations through the end of the year to help us reach our goal. Every dollar donated is worth $2.

The opposite of shrinking, we are also leaning into our role as a service provider. This is the second front of our inflection point. Burning Man Project is in service to a global cultural movement advancing a more creative, connected and thriving society.

And, to be in service to you, the participants that bring Burning Man to life and sustain it 365, we are making it easier to participate in this phenomenon that started on a beach and migrated to the Nevada desert and out into the world. How?

• We are determined to keep Burning Man financially accessible by offering reasonably priced ticket options for Black Rock City 2025, and we’ve improved many processes to provide better access to tickets and support your efforts to bring your self expression to Burning Man. Ticket details are still being ironed out, and today’s philanthropic support helps inform planning for the 2025 event.
• We have reduced many administrative processes, including how you bring your art, content, mutant vehicles and Theme Camps to Black Rock City. This includes the shortening of forms, including the Theme Camp Statement Of Intent, the Placed Camp Questionnaire and the Department of Mutant Vehicles (DMV) Application Form, and removal of unnecessary questions, to ensure we are seeking only the most necessary details. Additionally, with a new fast-track system for returning camps in good standing, you’ll find many questions pre-populated from your previous applications.
• We are looking deeper into feedback around delivery of Recreational Vehicles not being allowed to the playa, to ensure the policy best balances your safety and mitigation of onsite commercial activity.
• As we did in 2024, we will continue to visit Theme Camps less for compliance to government regulations and instead lean more heavily into pre-event education. In Black Rock City 2024, we simplified the complex fuel storage guidelines to make it easier for participants to follow.
• We are also making ourselves more accessible. By offering town halls, office hours and more clearly providing contact points for you within the nonprofit, we are making ourselves available to participants as a resource, supporting them to successfully contribute to and advance Burning Man culture in every corner of the world.
• We will continue to optimize your Black Rock City gate experience not only for wait times, but to also feel welcoming. This includes helping you prepare for what is expected for entry, and resolving side trips to D-Lot quickly and respectfully.

It is heartwarming and frankly overwhelming at times to hear all of your powerful stories of change and transformation at Burning Man. Most recently, we were thrilled to hear from a major Black Rock City theme camp and art car community that is working to have their group achieve 100% participation in donating to Burning Man Project. Gifts of any amount help us increase our fundraising participation numbers, and when everyone takes part, the benefit Burning Man can have on the world is limitless.

The world needs more Burning Man — let’s lean in and make it happen together.

Marian Goodell
CEO, Burning Man Project

Cover image of “Naga and the Captainess” by Cjay Roughgarden, Stephanie Shipman, and Jacquelyn Scott, 2024 (Photo by Espressobuzz)