Burning Man CEO seeks donations to ensure the festival’s long-term stability

Burning Man CEO has urged their community to raise $20 million to cover the 2024 event’s financial shortfall.

In a recent blog post titled ‘An Inflection Point,’ Burning Man’s CEO, Marian Goodell, has called upon the organization’s community to donate $20 million after facing economic challenges from this year’s event. Unlike in past years when the event sold out within 30 minutes, tickets were still available up to a week before Burning Man was set to take place back in September. Increased operating costs post-COVID and an unforeseen shortage in high-priced ticket sales have led to a $5.7 million revenue shortfall.

Burning Man’s ticket prices only cover a fraction of the cost of producing Black Rock City, the annual temporary metropolis. Goodell mentioned in the blog that in 2023, the price to produce the event was $749 per participant, while the main sale ticket price was $575 per ticket. To cover this gap, Burning Man held a FOMO sale for 2024, offering early secure tickets priced between $1,500 and $2,500, but sales didn’t go as planned.

Normally, Burning Man aims to receive $10 million in donations by January to put on the event. However, Goodell further detailed in the blog that “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.” The financial struggle is tougher than ever for the organization, and they urgently need the public’s help to continue in the future.

Burning Man is produced by the Burning Man Project, a nonprofit organization that remains true to its core values by relying heavily on philanthropy to keep the event economically feasible. Unlike typical music festivals, they avoid corporate sponsorships and merchandise sales. Goodell noted that for commercial music events, these contributing factors usually account for 25-30% of their revenue—a significant income source that Burning Man forgoes.

While the $20 million goal is ambitious, the CEO remains confident the funds will come through. Historically, the community has always helped reach year-end targets. Goodell expressed optimism, pointing to nearly three decades of successful support from the Burning Man community.

Although the current outlook has raised concerns among Burners, the CEO emphasizes that the event’s core values remain unchanged. With the community’s support, she believes Burning Man will continue evolving in the years ahead. If you aim to help keep Burning Man alive, you can donate through the Burning Man Project’s site.

Featured Image Burning Man 2024 Art Installation by Jen Lewis