Guaranteed Income Pilot Project

Project Overview

Elevate Boulder is the City of Boulder’s guaranteed income pilot project that will provide 200 low-income Boulder households with $500 per month for two years. This assistance is unconditional and unrestricted; that means it can be used how participants choose, and they won’t have to do anything in return. The city is allocating $3 million from its American Rescue Plan Act funds for the project.

More background information on the Elevate Boulder guaranteed income pilot project is available in English and in Spanish.

The Elevate Boulder application process closed on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. All selected participants are now enrolled. Applications are no longer being accepted.

Information for Selected Participants

Visit the Elevate Boulder Participant Information page for project information and updates.

Project Impacts

The cohort of Elevate Boulder pilot project participants reflect the broad diversity of the city’s low-income population. Most Elevate Boulder participants chose to participate in evaluation activities so that the city and our community as a whole can understand the impacts of cash assistance on their lives. Initial participant survey results will be released in December 2024, with additional survey results and storytelling opportunities throughout 2025-26.

Some participants have already shared how participating in Elevate Boulder is impacting their lives.

"Before I was accepted into this program I was struggling really hard to make ends meet. The extra $500 per month has changed my life for the better in ways that are impossible to describe. Sometimes the payment lands at that point between paychecks where I am struggling for groceries or gas, and it’ll see me through until the next payday. Or I’ve used it when the car desperately needed an oil change and I didn’t have it in my weekly budget from my wages. My daughter and I are doing so much better with this little boost in our lives."

"As a single mother, I've struggled with financial problems in life. Last year, my daughter was suffering from depression at a young age. Elevate Boulder helped me pay for after-school and summer camp programs, and get her the orthodontic services she needs. This support has given me the peace of mind to cover essential expenses, from medical bills to enriching my child's education, making a real difference in our daily lives."

"I turned 40 this year, and because of this program, I have been able to contribute to a retirement account. Being able to plan for my future for the first time in my life, makes me feel more stable and secure than I ever have."

How can you support Elevate Boulder?

Community members, businesses and organizations can donate to the Elevate Boulder Fund, in partnership with the Community Foundation Boulder County. Funds raised will help ensure that:

Applicants receive culturally-centered assistance from diverse, professional staff
The evaluation process is inclusive, robust and can help ensure project sustainability
Project participants can receive a higher direct cash assistance amount, or other resources to help them achieve financial stability

Contributions to the Elevate Boulder Fund will also help city staff determine the potential for ongoing, collective community support to extend the project after the pilot phase is complete.

Donate to the Elevate Boulder Fund