Direct Cash Pilots in Minnesota

Discover the breadth of pilot programs across Minnesota and the positive outcomes they have achieved for a broad range of target populations.

Springboard for the Arts: Guaranteed Income Pilot for Artists

2021 to 2026

Springboard for the Art’s Guaranteed Income for Artists pilot supports 100 artists across Minnesota for a total of 5 years, making it one of the longest running pilot programs in the nation. Springboard's pilot provides a national model for the inclusion of artists in policies that address economic inequity.

100

$500

per month for 5 years

Minnesota artists

“I think that guaranteed income is probably preventing a lot of people from being homeless, or on the verge of it, or having to make tough decisions about food and basic necessities.”

- Briauna, St. Paul, MN
Guaranteed Income Pilot for Artists

Birth Justice Collaborative: Postpartum Home Visiting and Cash Support Pilot

Spring 2024 to Summer 2025

Pilot a 15 month post-partum support program for the first year after birth including Postpartum Home Visiting and a Cash Support Pilot. Participants had access to a variety of supportive resources including food boxes, financial counseling, and fifteen months of nostrings-attached cash support – $800/month for 12 months and $300/month during a three-month winddown period.

42

$800

per month for 12 months + $300/month for 3 months

Parents

a person holding a baby

Using a mixed-method approach and validated scales, these are the pilot participant results and outcomes of the BJC Postpartum Support Pilot conducted from Spring 2024-Summer 2025.

Download BJC Postpartum Support Evaluation Report
Economic Mobility Hub: Guaranteed Basic Income Program for American Indian families with children who live in Ramsey County

July 2023 - July 2025

The Economic Mobility Hub for American Indians, a partnership of Interfaith Action's Department of Indian Work and the Montessori American Indian Childcare Center launched a Guaranteed Basic Income Program. Participating families have designed their own 7 Generations Family Plan and will participate in family-centered coaching. The program acknowledges and addresses the systemic and historic factors that have contributed to the socio-economic struggles for many American Indian families and takes a multi-generational approach to addressing economic mobility in our community.

26

$500

per month for 24 months

American Indian families

The City of Saint Paul: CollegeBound Boost

October 2022 to July 2025

CollegeBound Boost provided 333 low-income families enrolled in the CollegeBound Saint Paul program with a combination of $500 in guaranteed income payments each month for 2 years and deposits of $1,000 each for their child’s CollegeBound Saint Paul college savings account.

333

$500

per month for 2 years + $1,000 CollegeBound savings deposit

Low-income families

Hennepin County: Raise the Baseline Pilot

December 2023 to December 2024

Raise the Baseline is a pilot cash transfer program that provides monthly payments to residents who were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Families receive monthly payments they can use to meet their family’s basic needs and plan for the future. After 12 months of full payments, participants receive a partial payment for three months as they prepare to exit the program.

174

Low income families with children under age 5

The City of Minneapolis: Guaranteed Basic Income Program

June of 2022 to June 2024

The City of Minneapolis piloted a Guaranteed Basic Income Program for 200 households who received $500 from the City every month for two years with the goal of providing families with flexibility to balance immediate needs with long-term investments.

200

$500

per month for 2 years

Low income families

International Institute of Minnesota: Guaranteed Income Program for Immigrants

August 2022 to August 2023

The International Institute of Minnesota, a St. Paul refugee resettlement agency, launched the nation's first guaranteed income program for immigrants, giving 25 families $750 a month for 12 months.

25

$750

per month for 12 months

Immigrant families

Wilder Foundation: Rai$e

January 2022 to January 2023

Wilder Foundation launched Rai$e, a guaranteed income program that provided families $500 a month for 12 months. 72 families joined the first cohort in January, and a second cohort began later in the year.

72

$500

per month for 12 months

Low income families

The City of Saint Paul: People's Prosperity Pilot

October 2020 to March 2022

The People’s Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot provided 150 Saint Paul families with $500 per month in guaranteed income for a period of 18 months. The People's Prosperity Pilot was the first guaranteed income program run inside city government and with public funds through the CARES Act and MN Department of Human Services.

150

$500

per month for 18 months

Saint Paul families

city skyline during sunset with bridge

Read a research report produced by the Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR) which offers summaries of key findings, along with in-depth analyses of both quantitative and qualitative data from this pilot.

Download St. Paul, MN (PPP)'s Evaluation Report