Mark Donovan has spent his career looking for ways to challenge traditional systems and create meaningful change. From his early days in business to his work in the nonprofit sector, his focus has always been on finding innovative solutions to support those in need.
His connection to CFBNJ dates back to the early 1990s, when he worked in Newark and first heard about the organization.
“I was spending time in Newark and hearing the stories about how Kathleen DiChiara had just started to help people out of the back of her station wagon,” he recalled. “It just kept growing, the impact, the energy, and the people it attracted, including Bruce Springsteen. It was incredible to watch.”
For years, he admired CFBNJ’s work from afar, as his own career path led him overseas. After more than two decades in manufacturing, Mark transitioned to philanthropy and nonprofit work, founding the Denver Basic Income Project, which provides direct financial assistance to people experiencing homelessness.
As he built his new organization, he sought advice from leaders who had navigated similar challenges. “I told Kathleen, ‘I’m a bit of a fish out of water in this space,’” he said. “I came from a business mindset – speed to market, efficiency – but I was stepping into a sector that operated differently. People told me to slow down, to build trust first. And Kathleen was one of the first people who really helped me figure out how to navigate that.”
That guidance helped shape his approach. “A lot of people thought it was a crazy idea to give people direct cash assistance,” he said. “But the results speak for themselves. When you tell people, ‘We believe in you; we trust you,’ and you give them what they need without barriers, their lives improve.”
Looking back, Mark sees clear connections between his work and what he witnessed at CFBNJ. “It’s about treating people with dignity and not assuming you know what’s best for them,” he said. “That’s something I learned from Kathleen and from watching the way CFBNJ operates.”
His memories of Kathleen extend beyond professional advice, too. “She was at my wedding,” he recalled. “It was outdoors, and I remember a little bluebird landed on someone’s shoulder. She turned to me and said, ‘This is a sign.’ She always found beauty and hope in everything around her.”
Today, Mark remains focused on finding new ways to make an impact, whether through his work in Denver or in potential collaborations with organizations like CFBNJ.
“The way we treat people is just as important as the help we give them,” he said. “If we can build systems that respect and empower people, we can create lasting change.”