Burning Man Project
Burning Man Project is a public charity based in San Francisco, California. It supports arts, culture, education, and civic engagement, including participatory art and community activities connected with Black Rock City and communities beyond the event.
Burning Man Project at a glance
In short: Burning Man Project gave $317K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), top state California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $316,967
- -31.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,682
- -31.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $30,458,651
- -18.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (37% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Burning Man Project
- Invitation Only
-
For Black Rock City Honoraria, submit an LOI through the online process in a Burner Profile; full proposals are accepted by invitation only.
- Review Cycle
- The announced 2027 Honoraria application cycle is scheduled to open October 1, 2026, with an LOI deadline of October 29, 2026. The listed 2026 cycle dates are past.
- Deadline
- The announced 2027 Honoraria application cycle is scheduled to open October 1, 2026, with an LOI deadline of October…
- Contact
Mailing address: 660 Alabama Street 4Th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: (415) 865-3800
Website: https://www.burningman.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Burning Man Project funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Conecophony Collective LLC ($40K). Together the top 10 received $225K.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 72 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Black Rock City Honoraria program funds art installations for the open playa at the annual Burning Man event in Black Rock City. The organization also describes supporting participatory cultural opportunities and art in communities worldwide. Its Arts page cites installations at locations including Mountain View, California, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, and Torreón, Mexico.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Burning Man Project gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2020) to $465K (2023). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $317K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Conecophony Collective LLC Sheridan, WY | Honoraria Art Grant | $40,000 |
| Rocket Car Collective LLC San Francisco, CA | Art Grant | $30,000 |
| O Chelsy Productions LLC Newark, NJ | Honoraria Art Grant | $24,000 |
| Tyler Fuqua Creations Inc Oregon City, OR | Honoraria Art Grant | $22,000 |
| Barnacle Bros Sculpture & Custom Fabrication Inc San Leandro, CA | Honoraria Art Grant | $20,000 |
| Poetic Kinetics Inc Elbert, CO | Honoraria Art Grant | $20,000 |
| Product of Mars Inc Arlington Height, IL | Honoraria Art Grant | $20,000 |
| Goodly House Productions LLC New Orleans, LA | Honoraria Art Grant | $19,000 |
| The Next Earth Project Huntsville, UT | Honoraria Art Grant | $15,223 |
| Circaform Penngrove, CA | Honoraria Art Grant | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Burning Man Project?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $30,458,651 | $56,039,635 | $66,661,446 | $316,967 | 19 | $546,877 |
| 2023 | $37,545,614 | $66,571,053 | $63,604,379 | $465,480 | 19 | $522,200 |
| 2022 | $37,005,574 | $62,560,831 | $58,521,590 | $376,201 | 19 | $61,015 |
| 2021 | $30,700,234 | $27,748,874 | $25,116,560 | $223,356 | 14 | $-7,618 |
| 2020 | $25,058,069 | $15,633,807 | $22,655,698 | $55,000 | 1 | $1,259,111 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that its mission is to facilitate and extend Burning Man culture into the larger world and to uphold and manifest the values reflected in Burning Man’s Ten Principles through arts, culture, education, and civic engagement.
Its Arts program supports interactive and participatory creative expression through grants, public art, exhibitions, and civic installations. For Black Rock City Honoraria, the organization seeks physical, sculptural installations for the open playa that are visually appealing, impactful, and interactive. It does not fund performances, workshops, amplified sound or DJs, domes or other prefab structures, murals, theme camps, or mutant vehicles and bikes through that program.
The organization’s filing describes Civic Engagement as fostering volunteerism, public service, and creative placemaking, including through Burners Without Borders, regional network events, and civic infrastructure projects. Its Culture program develops spaces for arts, culture, and community participation; Education shares culture, principles, and skills through workshops, trainings, and seminars.
A 2023 grantee, Participatory Safety Inc, received $33,000. The grantee described its mission as raising funds and community participation through a costumed citywide event and smaller events, while funding art projects and donating to causes and charities aligned with its goals and mission.
Grantmaking
The IRS filing data reports 19 grants totaling $465,480 in 2023 and 19 grants totaling $376,201 in 2022. These totals correspond to average grants of approximately $24,499 in 2023 and $19,800 in 2022; individual grant amounts may vary. The 2024 filing data lists zero grants.
For Black Rock City Honoraria, applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through their Burner Profile. The Grant Committee selects projects to invite to submit full proposals; full proposals are by invitation only. The program page says the grants partially fund artworks installed on the open playa. The process does not accept LOIs by email or mail.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Burning Man Project is led by Marian Goodell, Chief Executive Officer & Director on every filing since 2020; 16 of 30 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Marian Goodell
Chief Executive Officer & Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$283K (2020) → $401K (2024)
Dennis M. Bartels
Chair of Board
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlie Dolman
Director of Event Operations
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$146K (2020) → $204K (2024)
Doug Robertson
Director of Finance
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$171K (2020) → $304K (2024)
Harley K. Dubois
Chief Culture Officer & Director
Director → Director & Chief Culture Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$205K (2020) → $231K (2024)
Michael Mikel
Historian, Archivist & Director
Director → Director, Historian & Archivist, 2023
On filings since 2020
16 hrs/week
$78K (2020) → $82K (2024)
Nanci O. Peterson
Art Transition Officer & Director
Secretary → Director & Art Transition Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$133K (2020) → $159K (2024)
Pedro Vidal Flores
Director of People & Learning
Director of People & Learning → Director of People Operations, 2021
Director of People Operations → Director of People & Learning, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$158K (2020) → $201K (2024)
Will Roger Peterson
Brc Director of Nv Relations & Director
Director → Brc Director of Nv Relations & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
16 hrs/week
$78K (2020) → $80K (2024)
Kim Cook
Senior Director of Global Activation
Director of Art & Civic Engagement → Director of Creative Initiatives, 2022
Director of Creative Initiatives → Senior Director of Global Activation, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$182K (2021) → $197K (2024)
Marnee Benson
Senior Director of Govt Affairs
Director of Govt Affairs → Senior Director of Govt Affairs, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$174K (2022) → $181K (2024)
Timothy Renollet
Director of Nevada Operations
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$189K (2023) → $276K (2024)
Farhad Mohit
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fred Brathwaite
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kay Morrison
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leo Villareal
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Goldberg
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mercedes Martinez
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Farrah
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nushin Sabet
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ping Fu
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry Gross
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josette Melchor
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimbal Musk
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather White
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$188K (2020) → $254K (2024)
Jonathan E. Rosen
Associate Director of Prod. & Des.
Associate Director Product & Design → Associate Director of Product & Design, 2021
Associate Director of Product & Design → Associate Director of Prod. & Des., 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $199K (2024)
Steven Blumenfeld
Chief Technology Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$178K (2020) → $317K (2024)
Adam Belsky
General Counsel
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$213K (2022) → $259K (2024)
Juho Parkkinen
CFO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$218K (2024)
Jennifer Raiser
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Stuart A. Mangrum (2020–2023) — Director of Philosophical Center
- Former: Daniel Kaufman (2021–2023) — Director of Philanthropic Engagement
- Former: William Roger Peterson (2023) — Director & Brc Director of Nv Relations
- Former: Matthew Kwatinetz (2020–2022) — Director, Senior Director & Nevada Operations
- Former: Christopher Breedlove (2022) — Director of Civic Activation
- Former: David Walker (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Raymond Allen (2020–2021) — General Counsel
- Former: Allyson Deraps (2021) — Deputy General Counsel
- Former: David Bill (2020) — Interim Chief Technology Officer · Filing note: Thru 52020
- Former: Megan Miller (2020) — Director of Communications
- Former: Silvia Stephenson (2020) — Ux Design Manager · Filing note: Thru 112020
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $401K, to Marian Goodell (Chief Executive Officer/Director). 16 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Burning Man Project
How much does Burning Man Project give each year?
Burning Man Project gave $317K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $465K across 19 grants.
What is Burning Man Project's typical grant size?
Burning Man Project's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $16,682, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Burning Man Project give grants?
Burning Man Project's top state is California, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Wyoming (13%) and Nevada (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Reno, NV (3 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Burning Man Project give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Burning Man Project's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Honoraria Art Grant" (16 grants) and "Art Grant" (3 grants).
Who are Burning Man Project's largest grantees?
Burning Man Project's largest 2024 grantees include Conecophony Collective LLC ($40,000), Rocket Car Collective LLC ($30,000) and O Chelsy Productions LLC ($24,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Burning Man Project?
Burning Man Project reported $30.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $56.0M.
What does Burning Man Project fund?
The organization states that its mission is to facilitate and extend Burning Man culture into the larger world and to uphold and manifest the values reflected in Burning Man’s Ten Principles through arts, culture, education, and civic engagement. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Burning Man Project?
For Black Rock City Honoraria, submit an LOI through the online process in a Burner Profile; full proposals are accepted by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Burning Man Project's EIN?
Burning Man Project's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2638273. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Burning Man Project's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
Waldman Family Charitable Trust
Nazareth, PA
The Waldman Family Charitable Trust supports organizations working in arts and education, health care, suicide prevention, disability services, food assistance, and community services, with most 2025 grant dollars going to Pennsylvania recipients and others going to New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and Maryland. Its 91 grants in 2025 ranged from $250 to $35,000, with a median of $1,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
91
Total Given
$282K
Nora Roberts Foundation
Glenn Dale, MD
The Nora Roberts Foundation prioritizes literacy and also supports the arts, children, social justice, and the environment. It gives mainly in Maryland and nearby parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC, while also making grants nationwide; typical grants are about $3,000–$5,000. Its 2025 filing says it funds preselected organizations only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$118.6M
Grants
466
Total Given
$7.5M
The Zellerbach Family Foundation
San Francisco, CA
The Zellerbach Family Foundation funds arts and culture, community safety and belonging, and efforts to build community power and transform public systems, with a focus on Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties. In 2024, grants ranged from $2,500 to $170,000, with a median of $10,000; its Community Arts program offers grants of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. It accepts unsolicited applications only through the Community Arts program; other grants are by invitation.
Assets
$163.6M
Grants
224
Total Given
$6.0M
The Wilhelm Family Foundation Co Cascade Wilhelm
Los Angeles, CA
The Wilhelm Family Foundation supports small 501(c)(3) arts organizations and programming that expand access to creative expression and public engagement, with particular interest in underserved communities; it often funds general operations and programs. Grants average about $10,000, and applicants across the United States are welcome, though many awards go to California. It accepts applications through an online portal during its annual grant cycle.
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
24
Total Given
$219K
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Burning Man Project funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/burning-man-project-morg_98c96da6eec84b349b9c46c2465fdc28
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_452638273_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Burning Man Project funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/burning-man-project-morg_98c96da6eec84b349b9c46c2465fdc28},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Burning Man Project's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Burning Man Project down — hundreds of funders to go?