Healthy Beginnings Project
The Healthy Beginnings Project was Colorado's first guaranteed income pilot focused on maternal well-being, providing $750/month in unconditional cash for 15 months to 20 pregnant individuals in Denver and rural Montezuma/Dolores Counties. It was the first guaranteed income program in the U.S. fully funded by a private company, GoldBug (an infant/children's accessory brand), with implementation by nonprofit Impact Charitable and evaluation led by Income Movement. Participants were recruited through community partners Denver Health and the Piñon Project. Recipients could also earn up to $600 in medical-visit stipends. Evaluation funding for the research was separately provided by Gary Community Ventures.
Maternal Health, Pregnancy, Guaranteed Income, Rural-Urban, Private-Company-Funded, Colorado
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Impact Charitable
- City
- Denver
- State / Province
- Colorado
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 720-239-2789
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 20
- Funding type
- Corporate, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 11,250 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 750 USD
- Payment frequency
- Variable
- How long the program lasts
- 15 months
- Distribution Type
- Prepaid Debit Card
- Benefit details
Participants received $750/month, disbursed as two fixed $375 payments per month (described by the source report as both 'bi-weekly' and 'twice monthly') via a prepaid debit card, for 15 months (Nov 2023-Feb 2025). Payments were structured as non-taxable gifts. Participants could also receive up to $600 in medical stipends ($200 each for up to three prenatal/postnatal/child wellness visits attended). GoldBug additionally provided postpartum gift baskets (toys, clothes, maternal/childhood products) after participants delivered.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants had to be at least 18 years old, currently pregnant in their second or third trimester, and reside in Denver, Montezuma, or Dolores County, Colorado. Household income had to be at or below 80% of Area Median Income ($62,600 for Denver County or $46,050 for Montezuma/Dolores Counties). Applicants needed photo ID, proof of address, and proof of income, and were referred through partner community-based organizations Denver Health (Denver) or Piñon Project (Cortez). Eligible applicants were entered into a weighted random selection process, evenly split between urban (Denver) and rural (Cortez-area) participants.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Sex
- Female
- Gender
- Female
- Language
- English, Spanish
Family
- Family Status
- Expecting
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $62,600
- Income as % of Area Median Income
- 80 %
Geography
- US states covered
- Colorado
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Denver, Cortez
- Counties covered
- Denver, Montezuma, Dolores
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Research / participation requirements
Evaluation was led by the nonprofit Income Movement using a mixed-methods approach emphasizing qualitative data, including baseline and endline surveys, quarterly surveys at 3/9/12 months, photovoice/diary entries, and three roundtable discussions. Participation in the research component was optional, though all 20 participants (100%) opted in. Findings were published in the 2025 report 'Healthy Beginnings: The Impact of Guaranteed Income on Advancing Maternal Well-Being' by Erica Wright, Jourdan McGinn, and Stacey Rutland; key results included 84% of participants able to meet basic needs at endline (up from 60% at baseline) and 94% rating their overall experience 5/5.
Application Process
- How to apply
Interested individuals applied online through a secure application platform managed by Impact Charitable (approximately 15 minutes to complete, accessible via mobile or computer), submitting a photo ID, proof of address, and proof of income. Applicants could apply independently or with support from the Piñon Project or Impact Charitable staff. Applicants were identified/referred through community partners Denver Health (Women's Health Clinic outreach only, no application support) and the Piñon Project (recruited via its client network and referrals).
- Selection process
Impact Charitable reviewed applications to confirm eligibility, then entered all eligible applicants into a weighted randomization process. Twenty participants were selected at random, intentionally split evenly (10 urban/Denver, 10 rural/Cortez and surrounding southwest Colorado) to ensure balanced urban and rural representation.
