Our Mission

The Denver Basic Income Project serves unhoused people by examining the impact of a guaranteed income in an effort to encourage a healthier society centered around human thriving.

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The Denver Basic Income Project recognizes and is opposed to the systemic barriers to rising out of poverty and supports providing cash assistance to those most impacted and in need. In eliminating financial barriers, we create a path to equity and social justice for our unhoused neighbors. Our organization is committed to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in all aspects of our organization and mission.
The land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Peoples. We also recognize there are more than 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado. We honor Elders past, present, and future, and those who have stewarded this land throughout generations. We embrace and benefit from the contemporary and dynamic role that the tribes maintain. Over 120 nations are represented in the Denver Metro Area today.
We also recognize that government, academic and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of Indigenous Peoples. Colorado was the site of the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864, which killed 230 native people– mainly children, women, and the elderly. Denver was one of 9 federal relocation sites used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the 1950s and 1960s in an effort to forcefully acculturate Indigenous communities and terminate the treaty obligations which the federal government held with their nations.
May this acknowledgment demonstrate a commitment to working to dismantle ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities and recognize and celebrate the current and future contributions of Indigenous communities in Denver.
Denver Basic Income Project seeks to encourage a healthier and just society centered around human thriving. We work together to foster a welcoming community where collaborators feel a strong sense of belonging and trust. Our approach and decision-making centers the input from those with lived experience, those on the frontlines, and those currently experiencing homelessness. Together, we try, we learn and we continue– bringing creativity and boldness; individually and collectively. We care about people and their self-determination and dignity, so we care about each other and being responsible and accountable to one another to carry out the vision of this work. We are the Denver Basic Income Project.

Our 2024 Impact Report is here!

Read how over $10.8 million in guaranteed income has empowered more than 800 individuals experiencing homelessness to achieve housing stability and financial resilience. Through compelling data and personal stories, the report highlights the transformative potential of direct cash assistance.

READ THE REPORT

92%

of program participants chose to participate in our randomized control trial voluntarily. This exceptionally high opt-in rate suggests that trusting participants to decide how to use their cash fosters reciprocal trust and positive engagement.

67%

of our participants identify as people of color, and nearly 50% identify as women, transgender, or nonbinary individuals. DBIP's participant pool mirrors Denver's homeless demographics and embodies our equity-centered approach.

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Our Team

Founder & Executive Director
Mark Donovan is a Denver based entrepreneur and philanthropist. He received a B.A. in Economics from Harvard and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School. In 1992 Mark co-founded Wooden Ships Knits, a Bali based women’s sweater brand. He studies, practices and teaches the principles of Lean (The Toyota Production System). In 2020 he founded the Denver Basic Income Project to advance the use of guaranteed income to invest in people and their ability to thrive when given trust, hope, and a financial foundation. Mark is the father of three boys, an avid skier and outdoorsman who also loves to play the piano and guitar. He is committed to fighting all forms of injustice and protecting our planet for future generations.

Community Engagement Manager
Maria Sierra is an experienced professional working with those experiencing homelessness and has over 25 years of experience working in nonprofit service organizations and low-income housing. Helping individuals overcome obstacles and difficulties and making the most of themselves is a gratifying yet challenging career. Maria has a thorough knowledge of housing and social service systems and a unique perspective and understanding of the struggle individuals and families often face with meeting their basic needs. What drives her is the desire for the people she works with to EXPERIENCE life truly and not just navigate through their struggles. Maria holds a B.A. in Chicano Studies/Human Services from the Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Project Manager
Gwen Battis is an experienced communications and project management professional within social impact and public service spaces. She holds a B.A. in Communications & Media and Sociology from DePaul University and a M.A. in International and Intercultural Communication, along with a certificate in Global Business & Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of Denver. Driven by equity-based and participatory communication, Gwen comes to DBIP with extensive experience engaging traditionally disenfranchised communities through messaging, advocacy, and action. She is dedicated to giving a voice to Denver’s unhoused community and inspiring necessary systemic change.

Community Power-Building Lead
Hunter Elizabeth Ambrose brings a wealth of experience and passion for social justice to her role as the Community Power Building Team Lead at the Denver Basic Income Project. With a background in community organizing and strong interest in public policy, Hunter has dedicated her career to advocating for equitable solutions that empower marginalized communities. Hunter studied Human Services with a Non- Profit Concentration at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she developed a deep understanding of the systemic issues affecting low-income individuals and families. She has worked with various local nonprofits and community organizations, focusing on strategies that foster inclusivity and resilience. Her expertise in grassroots mobilization and community engagement has been instrumental in driving initiatives that amplify community voices and foster collaboration.

Board of Directors

Mark Donovan

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mark Donovan is a Denver based entrepreneur and philanthropist. He received a B.A. in Economics from Harvard and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School. In 1992 Mark co-founded Wooden Ships Knits, a Bali based women’s sweater brand. He studies, practices and teaches the principles of Lean (The Toyota Production System). In 2020 he founded the Denver Basic Income Project to advance the use of cash assistance to combat income inequality and injustice. Mark is the father of three boys, an avid skier and outdoorsman who also loves to play the piano and guitar. He is committed to fighting all forms of injustice and protecting our planet for future generations.
Suzana Deng Mayen

BOARD CHAIR
Suzana Deng Mayen MBBS, MHCL, HDIA-Cert is a Public Health Consultant with an unwavering commitment to community health, equity, and social justice. As Chair of the Board for the Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP), she provides strategic guidance born from decades of professional experience in public health, policy advocacy, and partnership-building. Throughout her career, Suzana has championed initiatives at the intersection of health and human services, consistently forging collaborative efforts that address complex systemic challenges. Her work in substance use disorder prevention, health equity strategies, and emergency response management at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment exemplifies her dedication to bridging gaps in care and promoting measurable outcomes. She observed that “housing insecurity” is an often overlooked Social Determinant of Health, mentioned performatively but never practically and intentionally addressed. The Denver Basic Income Project is uniquely addressing that gap.
Janet K. Rose

BOARD VICE CHAIR
Janet K. Rose is a disabled, bisexual, Chicana, heart-centered leadership consultant and president of Rose Connections. Janet applies her experience as a former disability attorney, mediator and nonprofit manager toward supporting emerging leaders as they leverage their lived experience and resilience into community-led, trauma-informed solutions. Originally from Pueblo, Colo, Janet brings a passion for inclusion and systemic change from both her upbringing and her professional insight working with vulnerable communities. In working with SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach Access & Recovery), Janet’s successes as an advocate and a team leader informed the state's overhaul of the Aid to Needy Disabled (AND) program. She has served on boards such as the ACLU-CO, GLBT Bar Association, Denver Food Rescue and Shiny Garden. Currently she serves as the DEI chair for GoFarm Colorado.
Lucille Echohawk

BOARD MEMBER
Lucille Echohawk is a citizen of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and resides in Arvada, Colorado. She has worked in the Indian child welfare, nonprofit and philanthropic fields for more than thirty years. She was employed for twelve years as a Strategic Advisor with Casey Family Programs, a national private operating foundation. She served as Executive Director of the Denver Indian Family Resource Center 2012-2014, and then again in that capacity as a volunteer from 2018 until 2020. Though formally retired she continues to be active in community, state and national endeavors.
Dawn Howard

BOARD MEMBER
After graduating from CSU, I worked briefly as a Registered Occupational Therapist and then earned a Master's in Library Science (MLS). I spent thirteen years working as a Librarian in Public Libraries in Broward (FL) and Denver. Nine years ago I joined the Staff of Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition where I currently focus on housing for people with disabilities. I love engaging people with disabilities to make systemic change. In my free time, I am a poet, enjoy live theater and music, and spend time with friends
Delfina Jackson

BOARD MEMBER
Moriah Rodriguez

BOARD MEMBER
Moriah Rodriguez, a Denver native, is a dedicated mother, self-advocate, and community leader. "Community is everything to me," she states, reflecting her lifelong commitment. With extensive experience in community organizing, notably through her previous work with Servicios de La Raza, she empowers others to transcend their circumstances. Moriah serves on numerous influential committees, including the DPS Mental Health Advisory Committee, People United for Healing Brain Injury Support Group, and the Developmental Disability Board. Currently, she is the President of the Westwood Community Action Team, a newly formed resident neighborhood organization. As a fellow with Stand for Children Colorado and a board member of the Denver Basic Income Project, Moriah Rodriguez is passionately working to create positive change and improve Denver for future generations.

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Community Based Organizations

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Funders

Partners

Endorsements

"Basic income is one of the prongs in our approach to dealing with homelessness. DBIP participants have voiced that this cash was not just a stop-gap to decide next steps or hold them over. Instead, it gave them a strong foundation to build on and put their lives together. In my talks with past participants, I’ve heard the same refrain echoed time and again. One of gratitude, joy, and real relief. One that I believe is worth investing in and continuing."

Councilwoman Shontel Lewis, Denver City Council District 8
“It is so great to see basic income in action and helping real people. The Denver Basic Income Project will help inform and influence the rest of the country to follow their lead and take care of all their constituents.”

Andrew Yang, Former U.S. Presidential Candidate and co-chair of the Forward Party
“I believe all Coloradans should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their housing situation. The Denver Basic Income Project distributes funds to people who are unhoused, with the autonomy to decide how best to utilize those funds. In the midst of the ongoing housing crisis, I am encouraged and inspired by their efforts.”

Senator Julie Gonzales
“Guaranteeing a basic income for people is one of the most promising and innovative ways to assure economic security and freedom in Colorado and nationwide. DBIP provides compassionate and equitable support to those who are experiencing homelessness and The Colorado Trust is honored to be part of this transformative initiative that will pave the way for the rest of the country.”

Don Mares, President & CEO of The Colorado Trust