We’re all in this together
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO
Dear supporters of Unbound,
Looking back over the previous year, I’m reminded of something co-founder Bob Hentzen said. When asked what “the walk” symbolized for the Unbound community, Bob said:
“I think it says, ‘Let’s get out there together. …’ We told [the families Unbound serves] we were going to walk with them … and here we are.”
As your new president and CEO, I am reminded daily of the generosity of our sponsors, donors and partners. In the year 2023, in a time of so many global humanitarian crises, your dedication to Unbound’s mission inspired me.
Truly, we all are out there and in this together, walking alongside families as they strive to rise above poverty, and I am grateful for your support. Our purposeful use of the vital funds you entrusted to us paved the way for families in our programs to realize the potential within them.
Last year was one of change at Unbound, which included my appointment as interim president and CEO upon the retirement of Scott Wasserman, who had served in that role since 2013, and the election of Emma Miller as chief governing officer of the Unbound board. Emma was elected upon the retirement of David Herbison, who served for nine years as a board member and CGO.
Change is hard and can be disruptive, but it can also be an exciting time of reflection and rejuvenation. Families participating with Unbound encounter change continually in their lives, largely from factors beyond their control and yet, they teach us courage, resilience and the importance of community. They demonstrate the principle of “togetherness” every single day.
In 2023, Unbound celebrated the sponsorship of our 1 millionth friend. Behind every sponsored child, youth or elder there is a family and a community, so the number of people impacted by your support is far greater than 1 million. I am dedicated to impacting the next 1 million people living in poverty across the world in a fraction
of the time. I’m excited as our teams create innovative strategies to reach an even greater number of marginalized families and communities — strategies like our pilot program that allows supporters to sponsor and empower mothers groups.
Later in 2024, we will roll out a new strategic vision for Unbound that outlines our plans over the coming years to bring us one step closer to a world where every person can live in a manner befitting their dignity, unburdened from poverty. I know for certain that the impact goals in this new strategic plan will not be possible without your support.
In October 2023, I was honored to meet our preachers who share Unbound’s mission in Catholic parishes across the U.S. as they gathered at our global headquarters in Kansas City. I am sure many of you first came to know of Unbound through hearing about us from one of our preachers at a weekend Mass at your parish. This is the lifeblood of Unbound. While giving welcome remarks, I told them about a mentor of mine, a Jesuit priest in Boston who, many years ago, introduced me to the writings of Cardinal John Henry Newman, who was canonized by Pope Francis in 2019.
In his “Development of Christian Doctrine” essay, Cardinal Newman writes on change and life, and there is a quote that has guided me for almost 30 years. It says, “In a higher world it is otherwise, but here below to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.”
In this time of change and looking toward the future, I once again thank you; it’s because we’re all still out there and in this together that our possibilities are limitless.
Together, with you,
Ashley Hufft PRESIDENT AND CEO
Scan the QR code or go to Unbound.org/AR to watch a special video message from Ashley.
YOUR SUPPORT IN ACTION
Unbound sponsors and donors made a positive impact in the lives of individuals and families in four main ways in 2023.
CHILD AND ELDER SPONSORSHIP
When you sponsor a child or elder, you say to that person and their family, “I believe in you.” Through sponsorship, individuals and families have resources and a solid support network to chart their paths out of poverty. Sponsorship of elders helps counter loneliness and isolation in that vulnerable population. Funding for the sponsorship program totaled $111.1 million in 2023.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
We believe people living in poverty have ideas, skills and leadership capabilities to confront their challenges, and with resources and a supportive community, they’ll succeed. Scholarships help students achieve educational goals, follow their chosen career paths and serve their communities. In 2023, Unbound disbursed $3.9 million to support students in our scholarship program.
AGENTS OF CHANGE
Agents of Change helps families build safer, healthier, more productive communities. Parent groups apply for grants to implement small-scale, local solutions such as handwashing stations at schools, refurbished playgrounds, solar streetlights, footbridges, clean water access and more. In 2023, Agents of Change initiatives were implemented in 15 countries with funds totaling $522,953.
CRITICAL NEEDS FUND
People living in poverty suffer disproportionately during setbacks such as those caused by natural disasters, health emergencies, fires or loss of income. The Critical Needs Fund provides essential support in times of crisis. In 2023, Unbound sent over $1.2 million to our programs to support families in their recovery from a crisis.
YOUR IMPACT IS GLOBAL
US HEADQUARTERS
UNBOUND COUNTRIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2023
11,578 small groups empowering parents to build strong support networks
GUATEMALA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TANZANIA
UGANDA
KENYA
MADAGASCAR
470 communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America with Unbound programs
259,462 children, youth and elders sponsored
956,218 messages exchanged between sponsors and sponsored friends
$114.4 million in direct assistance to programs around the world
9,079 aspiring students awarded scholarships
767 staff leaders driving local solutions are former Unbound beneficiaries
543 community improvement initiatives carried out with Agents of Change grants
PHILIPPINES
YOUR IMPACT IS PERSONAL
FAMILIES RECEIVE ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT
Local support is customized to each family’s individual needs. Social workers make home visits to listen and explore the progress families are making.
FAMILIES SET THEIR GOALS
In partnership with Fundación Paraguaya, Unbound expanded the use of a methodology — called Unbound Goal Orientation powered by Poverty Stoplight — that allows families to assess their poverty levels and measure their progress as they set and work toward goals to exit poverty. Using survey responses from families, community-level reporting and analysis revealed notable improvements in family savings, diversified income and achievements in children’s education. Over 200,000 families completed surveys in 2023.
FAMILIES HAVE FLEXIBILITY WITH CASH TRANSFERS
Cash transfers promote dignity and create greater economic stability for families as they decide how and when to use their financial support. Ninety-eight percent of families received their benefits in the form of cash transfers.
YOUR IMPACT IS LIFE-CHANGING
EDUCATIONAL ACCESS AND ATTAINMENT
Children and young adults in the sponsorship program are required to pursue educational goals on the basis that expanded access to education reduces poverty. In 2023, two programs in India and one in Kenya conducted evaluations that showed sponsorship support helped students attain higher levels of education also helped families start new income-generating activities or businesses, improve housing conditions, access health care and be more united as families.
RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING
Mothers are at the heart of Unbound programs. Each family in the sponsorship program has a family representative, most often the mother, who becomes part of a small, local Unbound parent group. Members encourage and hold each other accountable through the groups. There are over 11,500 small groups across communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND EMPOWERMENT
Strong moms are advocates for their children and use their resources wisely for their families. Unbound parent groups hold over $11 million in savings families to access microloans for business capital and supplies, training expenses and other needs.
STORIES OF IMPACT
INITIATIVES EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES TO DRIVE LASTING CHANGE
In Tanzania, a community had been waiting years for their local government to repair a damaged road and bridge that served as residents’ main access points to schools, hospitals and businesses. Seeing the opportunity to take matters into their own hands, two groups of mothers of sponsored children joined forces to use their Agents of Change grants to initiate and complete the repairs in just one week. Over half of the more than 1,800 Agents of Change initiatives funded since 2017 have been for transport infrastructure improvement projects, like this road and bridge.
Scan to read how mothers are improving community infrastructure with Agents of Change grants.
SUSTAINING DREAMS IN TIMES OF UNEXPECTED SETBACKS
Nineteen-year-old sponsored youth Zel and her family in the Philippines lost their home and all their belongings in a disastrous neighborhood fire. Zel, who, along with her father, supports her 10 younger siblings, feared the family would have been homeless had they not received assistance from Unbound’s Critical Needs Fund to rebuild their home.
Scan to read all the ways the Critical Needs Fund helps families recover.
MAKING EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE TO YOUTH AND MOTHERS
For more than 25 years, Unbound’s Scholarship Program has provided students in marginalized communities around the globe with opportunities for education, including more than 9,000 students in 2023. In India, a special scholarship program for the mothers of sponsored children has given 42 mothers access to the educations they were denied as children, and some are pursuing sustainable job opportunities in law, health care and more.
Scan to read how scholarships are helping reshape mothers’ destinies in India.
HELPING FAMILIES SET GOALS THAT MOVE THEM BEYOND POVERTY
Sponsorship gives the families of sponsored children access to Unbound’s Goal Orientation powered by Poverty Stoplight, a poverty measurement and eradication tool that Unbound uses in partnership with Fundación Paraguaya. The methodology helps families focus on how to best move their goals from red to green to begin rising above poverty. Since 2021, families globally have set more than 350,000 goals — such as practicing saving or acquiring electricity or running water to their homes.
Scan to read how families are setting life-changing goals with Poverty Stoplight.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
As of December 31, 2023
AND NET ASSETS
: Each year the independent accounting firm of FORVIS conducts an audit of Unbound’s financial statements and accounting practices in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. A copy of this audit report is available upon request or online at www.unbound.org
Unbound is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, federal EIN: 43-1243999. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law unless otherwise noted.
Where your money goes
Responsible, transparent financial management is a hallmark of Unbound. We make it our priority to ensure that the funds you entrust to us are used efficiently and effectively to benefit individuals and families on their paths out of poverty.
In 2023, 90.2% of our expenses were for program support, with over $114.4 million in direct assistance to our programs around the world.
IN THEIR WORDS
Members of our community share how partnering with Unbound has impacted their lives.
“Thanks to [Unbound], who awakened my mind of how to do and how to achieve a goal. I cannot repay them [the sponsors] with a big thing, but I can repay them with prayers.”
Francisca | mother of sponsored child Julio GUATEMALA
“Unbound for me is a big help. They support my foods every day. … It is the best support that I’ve ever had in my life. They never fail to help us, and I am so thankful for my sponsor for choosing me as their sponsored friend.”
Adelaida | sponsored elder PHILIPPINES
“I want to give them [children living in poverty] inspiration and an avenue to be self-sufficient.”
Mai Whelan | sponsor NORTH CAROLINA
OUR MISSION
Unbound's mission is to walk with the poor and marginalized of the world.
GOVERNING BOARD
On behalf of sponsored individuals, their families and sponsors, the Unbound Governing Board monitors the integrity and accountability of the organization's operations. The board defines the outcomes expected, and management produces verifiable data proving progress toward the expected outcomes.
Emma Miller | chair/chief governing officer
Cindy Jones | vice chair/deputy CGO
Joe Barker | director
Dennis Bernardo | director
Lissa Haag | director
Susan Johnson | director
Board roster as of June 2024
Lisa Phillip | director
Abby Marie J. Rohr | director
Ex Officio Members (non-voting)
Ashley Hufft | Unbound president and CEO
Martin Kraus | treasurer, Unbound CFO
William Hansen | secretary, Unbound VP of finance
“The generous support from our sponsors and donors is so appreciated and needed. Unbound could not help so many families in need without it. We remain committed to utilizing the funds entrusted to us in a way that maximizes the benefits given to the children, elders and families in our Unbound programs around the world. With sincere gratitude, I say ‘thank you’ to each of you.”
Martin Kraus | chief financial officer
UNBOUND EARNS TOP MARKS FROM CHARITY EVALUATORS
Our commitment to excellent financial stewardship of the funds you entrust to us earns Unbound top ratings from independent charity evaluators like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and others.
