Burning Man Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BURNING MAN PROJECT FACILITATES AND EXTENDS BURNING MAN CULTURE INTO THE LARGER WORLD. ITS CHARITABLE MISSION IS TO UPHOLD AND MANIFEST THE VALUES REFLECTED IN THE TEN PRINCIPLES OF BURNING MAN, SPECIFICALLY: RADICAL INCLUSION, GIFTING, DECOMMODIFICATION, RADICAL SELF-RELIANCE, RADICAL SELF-EXPRESSION, COMMUNAL EFFORT, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, LEAVING NO TRACE, PARTICIPATION, AND IMMEDIACY THROUGH ARTS, CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
- Income
- $56.0 million
- Spending
- $66.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 1,201
- Volunteers
- 10,000
- Highest pay
- $414,377, chief executive officer/director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 23 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 38% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $36.3 million spent. CIVIC 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.
- $6.6 million spent. 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.
- $5.9 million spent. 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.
- $3.3 million spent. EDUCATIONEDUCATION SHARES BURNING MAN'S CULTURE, PRINCIPLES, AND SKILLS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS, AND SEMINARS. TOPICS RANGE FROM INTERACTIVE ART AND NONPROFIT OPERATIONS TO LEADERSHIP, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, SAFETY, AND GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT.
- $3.0 million spent. PHILOSOPHICAL CENTERTHE PHILOSOPHICAL CENTER SUPPORTS THE EXPLORATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE TEN PRINCIPLES THROUGH RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS, AND CURATED DIALOGUE. AS BMP'S CULTURAL THINK TANK AND DOCUMENTARIAN, IT CREATES AND PUBLISHES CONTENT AND MAINTAINS A LIVING ARCHIVE OF BURNING MAN'S EVOLVING ETHOS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.