That said, I have some clear concerns with burning Man's Marian Antoinette, the CEO/head of the board who plenty of people have opinions on whether she got there on her own merits, or through her relationship with Larry, the actual founder who sadly has passed away in the last years. I don't know enough to say myself, but looking at the financial state of these last 2 years, cannot really be happy with the state of things that she is ultimately fully responsible for. Of course, paying herself just shy of half a million dollars a year in non profit salary (your money and mine) does not help the image and intent. I'll even add that the more she pays herself, the more will be expected of her in superior leadership and management of nonprofit money. In the meantime, she has been wasting untold amounts of money on projects and expenses that many (or most?) do not approve of, including expensive real estate in San Francisco, because it's convenient for her commute and where she wants to live?
That could maybe be acceptable if she had not then asked for 20 million in additional donations while having published literally 0 accountability on how the money will be spent more wisely along with a serious apology on what went wrong with the significant amount of money that was lost, and which steps have been taken so that it doesn't happen again.

To add insult to injury, she sent that Email to everyone, trying to shame us all for not donating enough and if we don't, she'll have to get external sponsors and kill the spirit of burning man.
WTAF Marian Antoinette? That day, you signed your resignation letter for most of us, and we are still waiting for you to leave.

If you're going to tell me that you don't care so much, or it's not that bad, then maybe you should check other sources of people who work in the org, and some who have spoken up about how bad things are financially and how, according to them, BM is as of 2025 on the way to bankruptcy. Clearly, we should all care about all that not happening, and replace the leadership before more financial damage is done and even more needs to be undone. But yeah, we don't get to vote for the board, so I haven't found any other way than peer pressure and shaming if it comes down to that (she's had a whole year to step down and has not as of right now). If you have better ideas, I honestly want to hear them.

More reading:

While I would love for BM to move away to the ever destructive and unhealthy playa dust (I've had 2 fancy LED art pieces I built and that took weeks to make, utterly destroyed by the playa), I understand it may not happen, but at least I really want to see more healthy and humble leadership at the top. And yes, when the basic money flow issues have been handled (and I'm not claiming they are or will be trivial), maybe they will also consider that the location adds significant costs and challenges to the org itself that may not be worth the money, or liability if a huge freak rain, comes in and causes even more problems than last time.

As for Marian, I agree with many that she has done enough image damage that she has to step down, and her replacement needs to be more humble and go out of their way to show that spending is done mindfully to save costs and apply funds where they can make the most difference, while dropping side projects that many do not approve of, at least not without them being funded from a totally different pool of money, and not from BM ticket price increases. Maybe she did truly good work in the past, if so she can be thanked for those years. But I want to be very clear that just that ridiculous "BM will be sponsored by Mcdonalds if you people don't start donating more money like I told you to", is enough reason to have to step down. I've already seen answers from people inside the org, saying how worried they are about finances and how BM could simply go bankrupt at this rate. Clearly I don't have access to what they see, so that's second hand information, but I sure would like Marian and whowever is working with her on finances, to be replaced without BM having to go bankrupt before that happens.

In the meantime, I'm still sending my mad appreciation to the real heros that make the city happen, from Brian Herbek, Opal Essence, Syd Gris and the entire Opulent Temple crew, Tinic Uro and the Duck Pond Crew, Chuck Sommerville and IllumiNaughty, the DPW heroes to name just a very very few amongst all the heroes that deserve eternal credit, which includes the vast majority of people who make BM happen every year. I wish you all well and hope things work out. I'm not ever looking forward to the destructive playa dust, but hope to be able to see you all again, in that magical environment, especially if it can be on better land in the future.

RIP Mayan Warrior, Long Live Mayan Warrior 2!