An email from Burning Man Project CEO Marian Goodell suggests that the organization’s recent fundraising push has largely fallen on deaf ears.
This fall, nearly everyone who’s attended Burning Man at some point received numerous emails calling for donations to help the Black Rock Desert, Nevada arts gathering’s organizers offset financial shortfalls. The latest one indicates that the campaign hasn’t been successful as they’re still $14 million away from their end-of-year target with less than two weeks left in 2025.
Burning Man Project CEO Marian Goodell had first called upon the community’s supporters to help raise $20 million by the end of the year back in October. The year-end fundraising target had nearly doubled due to lower-than-expected sales of tickets — especially those in a higher-priced tier — as well as vehicle passes.
In a Thursday email, Goodell shared that is still a few million shy of even its initial target. “…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,” she wrote. “And today, with reductions as well as dollars raised from supporters, we’re still about $14M short of where we ought to be.”
While Goodell went on to say that the Burning Man Project “cut expenses, reduced the year-round workforce, deferred some payments, got reductions on our office rentals,” she didn’t hide that the organization “doubled down on our commitment to do more to bring Burning Man and Black Rock City to the world, not less.” Her approach doesn’t appear to have resonated with a number of vocal burners who perceive the organization’s aim to expand its culture globally as mission creep.
Burning Man has not publicly disclosed how the shortfall in donations might affect its operations, chiefly the production of its 2025 event scheduled for August 24 – September 1.
