Burning Man CEO Marian Goodell is calling on the event’s supporters for donations amid a critical “inflection point” for the iconic annual gathering in Black Rock City.
Sharing a candid blog post on the Burning Man Journal this week, Goodell revealed that the 2024 event in the Nevada desert fell millions of dollars short after tickets didn’t sell as planned.
“This $5.7M shortfall, combined with a $3M dip in receipts from main-sale tickets and vehicle passes, means that our year-end charitable donation target has essentially doubled to nearly $20M,” wrote Goodell. “This needs to happen before 2025 ticket sales and our annual revenue cycle begins in January.”
While she cited donations from “dedicated major donors,” Goodell called upon Burning Man’s global community to pitch in on fundraising efforts by contributing $20 per month. “Your steadfast generosity and ongoing donations are needed to help secure the long-term of Burning Man,” she pleads before acknowledging that an increase in ticket pricing next year is an “untenable option” for prospective attendees.
The nonprofit is reportedly instating reductions in staff and vendors as part of a “restructuring” of its operations to stay afloat during its financial hardship. Goodell shared a financial chart with more data.
You can donate to Burning Man here.