irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0BURNING MAN - LEVERAGING OUR COMBINED DECADES OF EXPERIENCE, WE CREATED AN UNPARALLELED LINE UP OF EXCITING, UPCOMING AS WELL AS LEGENDARY ARTISTS, WEAVING DIFFERENT STYLES, VIBES AND STORIES TO CREATE SEVEN NIGHTS OF WORLD-CLASS PROGRAMMING.
- #2 $0MIAMI - IN MIAMI, WE WERE PROUD TO BE THE PRESENTING PARTNER OF THE MULTI-FAITH PRAYER ROOM, AN IMMERSIVE SOUND AND LIGHT INSTALLATION BY BRANDT BAUER FRICK. DESIGNED AS A BLACK BOX TIME CAPSULE OF HOPES, FEARS, AND DREAMS, THE MULTI-FAITH PRAYER ROOM TRANSFORMS INTO A MULTIDIMENSIONAL POLYPHONY OF RECORDED MESSAGES FOR THE FUTURE. WE PRESENTED THIS INSTALLATION - SEEN AND EXPERIENCED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER - AS A SHOWCASE FOR SEVERAL NIGHTS, WITH THE PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT OF LAYLA BENITEZ, AMEME AND MARIEME.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
BusMod Project
Engineering initiative to convert the vintage Robot Heart bus into a diesel-electric hybrid with reduced emissions and enhanced performance for use at events like Burning Man
Fare Forward
Multi-day music and art activation in Central Park's Wollman Rink, marking the first live music event there in over 40 years; featured performances by Bebel Gilberto, Bob Moses, and Cymande
Multi-Faith Prayer Room
Immersive sound and light installation by Brandt Bauer Frick that collects and projects anonymous public messages about hopes, fears, and dreams; debuted at Art Basel Miami with spatial audio and light elements
Robot Heart Residency
Temporary community space offering music, art installations, youth workshops, wellness activities, and documentary screenings; launched in the Bay Area with events at The Loom's Seed Barn
Youth Workshop Program
Partnership with Museum of Children’s Art of Oakland (MOCHA) offering DJing and lighting design instruction to young people by resident artists and guest DJs
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Site-Specific Artistic Installations and Performances 2 activities
- Organizing artistic programming at Burning ManProduces and operates a multi-night artistic and musical programming event at Burning Man, featuring a diverse lineup of emerging and renowned artists across music, visual arts, and performance.
- Presenting immersive art installationsProduces and presents immersive sound and light installations such as the Multi-Faith Prayer Room, including its debut in Miami with contributions from artists like Layla Benitez, Ameme, and Marieme.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Delivering youth workshops in music and designHosts youth-focused educational workshops in DJing and lighting design in partnership with organizations like the Museum of Children’s Art of Oakland (MOCHA), led by Robot Heart resident artists and collaborators.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Hosting music and art residenciesRe-launched and operates the Residency program at The Loom in April 2024, featuring music performances, art installations, community engagement, and educational talks, with over 55 artists featured in 2024 and attendance exceeding 8,000.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Hosting temporary community events with multidisciplinary programmingCreated and hosted temporary community spaces such as in the Bay Area in 2023 and Fare Forward 2022 in Central Park, featuring music, art installations, wellness activities, dining, and educational programming, including the first live music event at Wollman Rink in over 43 years.
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Clean Transportation Adoption & Infrastructure 1 activity
- Upgrading event infrastructure for sustainability and performanceModernized the vintage Robot Heart bus into a diesel-electric hybrid with a 120 kWh battery and dual-motor E-axle to reduce environmental impact, and upgraded sound systems with custom-built, high-efficiency subwoofers for improved audio performance.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.17M
Contributions & grants$1.49M69%
Program service revenue$681K31%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$2.27M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$164K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$194K
Cash$49K
Investments$6K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$194K
Liquid reserves0.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +53.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PENELOPE CHESTER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $150K |
| ROBERT TORTI | TREASURER | 10 | $60K |
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- Ameme Partner — Participated in the Multi-Faith Prayer Room installation in Miami.
- Brandt Bauer Frick Partner — Collaborated on the presentation of the Multi-Faith Prayer Room immersive installation in Miami.
- Brandt Brauer Frick Partner — Collaborated on the Multi-Faith Prayer Room installation at Miami Art Basel 2022, integrating music, technology, and immersive sound design.
- Layla Benitez Partner — Participated in the Multi-Faith Prayer Room installation in Miami.
- Marieme Partner — Participated in the Multi-Faith Prayer Room installation in Miami.
- Museum of Children’s Art of Oakland Partner — Partnered to host youth DJ workshops during the 2023 Bay Area Residency.
- Summit Partner — Partnered to host an intimate cocktail and dinner event during the 2023 Residency.
- Thrival Guide Partner — Collaborated to host panels, talks, and conversations with artists and luminaries during the 2023 Residency.
- innerChild Foundation Partner — Partnered to host a dance event featuring Post:Ballet and Alonzo King Lines Ballet, with proceeds benefiting a suicide prevention charity.
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Artist Support Through Platforms and Shared Experiencesmethodology: artist_support_through_platforms_and_shared_experiencesBy providing platforms for creative expression to experimental emerging artists, we increase artistic innovation and audience engagement, because early-career artists produce more transformative and risk-taking work when given accessible, low-barrier opportunities to share it.
- Community-Centered Art and Technology Integrationmethodology: community-centered_art_and_technology_integrationBy supporting collaborative and participatory projects at the intersection of art, technology, and music, we foster deeper human connection, because shared creative processes break down social barriers and generate collective meaning.