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Burning Man Project
Burning Man Project reported $56.0 million in revenue and $66.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $82.78 went to program services, $13.70 to management and general costs and $3.52 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 85.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $414,377 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/DIRECTOR). 75 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 21% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $67MFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $56MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.8% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.7% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.5% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.36 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 11.7% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 85.3% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $414,377 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.62% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 75 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 3.4 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 19 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseCivic engagementcivic engagement fosters volunteerism, public service, and creative placemaking in communities including black rock city. It manifests through the work of burners without borders, regional network events, and civic infrastructure projects and gatherings
Culturethe cultural center develops and operates spaces that showcase and incubate Burning Man arts, culture, and community participation. These include temporary, virtual, or physical gathering spaces, galleries, archives, and community hubs, both urban and rural, that support collaboration, education, and connection
Artsburning man arts aims to shift the role of art from object to a participatory, shared experience, both at the Burning Man event and globally. The program supports interactive, participatory creative expression through grants, public art, exhibitions, and civic installations
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $401,097 | $0 | $13,280 | $414,377 |
| CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $316,833 | $0 | $16,971 | $333,804 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $304,165 | $0 | $8,031 | $312,196 |
| DIR. OF NEVADA OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $275,589 | $0 | $10,104 | $285,693 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $258,641 | $0 | $15,702 | $274,343 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $253,807 | $0 | $9,390 | $263,197 |
| CHIEF CULTURE OFFICER/DIRECTOR Director/trustee, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,230 | $0 | $19,550 | $250,780 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $217,579 | $0 | $12,562 | $230,141 |
75 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Burning Man Project (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b19 · 14 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,201
- Volunteers Part I, line 610,000
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| FACILITY CONCESSION SERVICES INC Food services | $1,684,634 |
| ROYAL AMBULANCE INC Medical services | $1,028,929 |
| BEAR COMMUNICATIONS INC Radio & communication services | $620,016 |
| HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP Legal services | $523,636 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 22 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
12 private foundations reported grants to Burning Man Project totaling $220K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Burning Man Project's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Burning Man Project, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Burning Man Project spent in 2024, $82.78 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Operation HomefrontSan Antonio, TX · revenue $56M · programs 84.3% · 2025
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- 1803 FundPortland, OR · revenue $56M · programs 92.4% · 2025
- Lexington Center CorporationLexington, KY · revenue $57M · programs 99.2% · FY2025
- Trinity Park ConservancyDallas, TX · revenue $54M · programs 67.1% · 2025
All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Burning Man Project's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Burning Man Project reported that 82.8% of its $66.7 million in expenses went to program services, 13.7% to management and general and 3.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Burning Man Project pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Burning Man Project reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $414,377, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Burning Man Project get its money?
Of $56.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 11.7% came from contributions and grants and 85.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Burning Man Project a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 45-2638273 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202543219349327664 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413179349309111 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313179349309051 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203209349300235 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123189349300222 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013219349315631 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 45-2638273: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.