Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2014 | (b) 2015 | (c) 2016 | (d) 2017 | (e) 2018 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 118,868,181 | 122,382,864 | 127,382,454 | 133,688,878 | 133,867,370 | 636,189,747 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | 0 | |||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | 0 | |||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 118,868,181 | 122,382,864 | 127,382,454 | 133,688,878 | 133,867,370 | 636,189,747 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. | 0 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 636,189,747 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2014 | (b) 2015 | (c) 2016 | (d) 2017 | (e) 2018 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 118,868,181 | 122,382,864 | 127,382,454 | 133,688,878 | 133,867,370 | 636,189,747 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 913,403 | 770,848 | 759,620 | 913,259 | 1,183,406 | 4,540,536 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | 1,498 | 90 | 557 | 105 | 547 | 2,797 |
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 640,733,080 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2014 | (b) 2015 | (c) 2016 | (d) 2017 | (e) 2018 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2014 | (b) 2015 | (c) 2016 | (d) 2017 | (e) 2018 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 1-1/2% of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by .035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | ||
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
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| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | ||
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | ||
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required) | ||
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | ||
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | ||
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
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| 9 Distributable amount for 2018 from Section C, line 6 | ||
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | ||
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2018 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2018 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
Distributable amount for 2018 from Section C, line 6 |
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|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2018 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2018: | ||||
| a From 2013....... | ||||
| b From 2014....... | ||||
| c From 2015....... | ||||
| d From 2016....... | ||||
| e From 2017....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2018 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2013 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2018 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2018 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2018, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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6
Remaining underdistributions for 2018. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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7 Excess distributions carryover to 2019. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2014...... | ||||
| b Excess from 2015..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2016..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1 | Unbounds mission is to walk with the poor and marginalized of the world. 1. We provide personal attention and direct benefits to children, youth, aging and their families so they may live with dignity, achieve their desired potential and participate fully in society. 2. We invite people of goodwill to live in daily solidarity with the worlds poor through one-to-one sponsorship. 3. We build community by fostering relationships of mutual respect, understanding and support that are culturally diverse, empowering and without religious or other prejudice. Grounded in the Gospel call to serve the poor, Unbound is a lay Catholic organization working with persons of all faith traditions to create a worldwide community of compassion and service. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A | Total grants for the sponsorship program were $107.2 million in 2018. At the end of 2018, a total of 308,042 individuals in Latin America, Asia and Africa were sponsored through Unbound. They included 275,833 children and youth, 31,957 elders and 252 candidates studying for the priesthood or religious life. Following are examples of achievements in the sponsorship program, as sponsored individuals and their families partnered with Unbound to identify the unique challenges they must overcome, set their own goals and formulate plans to achieve them. Unbounds sponsorship program connects children, youth, elders and their families with individual sponsors and supportive local communities of staff members and other families. Through sponsorship, individuals and families have resources and a solid support network to begin to chart their own course out of poverty. In 2018, Unbound had programs in 18 countries, including Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, the Philippines, Tanzania and Uganda. Sponsors - through the monthly financial contributions they make and letters they receive from their sponsored friends - experience a sense of connection with someone in another part of the world and satisfaction knowing they are helping another human being reach their potential. Sponsors also have the opportunity to write to their sponsored friends to offer their encouragement and build rewarding relationships. Unbound had 257,977 sponsors from the U.S. and around the world at the end of 2018. Sponsored individuals and their families partner with Unbound to make program and benefit decisions that help them meet their basic needs and develop potential over the course of their time in the program, which is sometimes 18 years or more. Sponsored individuals and their families use financial assistance to help meet needs such as education, nutrition, housing improvements, transportation and health care. They also have access to leadership and economic development opportunities related to financial literacy, skill development and income generation. Sponsorship requires active participation from families as the assistance is highly personalized. Families take a central role in deciding sponsorship benefits, and in forming support networks in which they encourage and are accountable to each other. Small support groups of parents and guardians, mostly made up of mothers, are key in the sponsorship programs success. Outcomes vary but typically relate to education, leadership development, improved health and nutrition status, dignified housing, skill development and increased income through livelihood opportunities for families. Monitoring program success Monitoring and evaluation of programs Unbound is committed to learning from our work and ensuring that it makes a positive impact in the lives of children, youth, elders and families around the world. The organization asks two basic questions to earn donor trust and be at our best for those we work with: 1. Did we do what we said we were going to do? This is program monitoring. 2. Did it make a difference? This is program evaluation. Unbound distinguishes between monitoring and evaluation and maintains separate but complementary strategies. Monitoring: The principal purpose of monitoring is accountability. Regular program monitoring is conducted to ensure fidelity in the organizational structure, development of programs, implementation of policies and the appropriate use of finances. Some of this monitoring happens across distance with regular reporting, emails and phone calls. Much of it happens with personal, on-site visits from Unbound's Kansas City headquarters staff. Unbounds monitoring strategy includes: 1. Visits made annually to each project for staff development, program support and assessments 2. Financial audits conducted in each project 3. Program audits conducted in each project 4. Awareness trips and individual sponsor visit opportunities 5. Third-party legal assessments of projects Evaluation: Learning is the focus of program evaluation. Unbounds personalized approach to sponsorship requires a unique and creative approach to evaluation. The organization has developed a three-tier system to evaluate the outcomes of the Unbound sponsorship program to address the learning and decision-making needs at all levels: individual, project/program and global. Individual outcomes: Letters from sponsored individuals to their sponsors provide direct feedback about how the relationships and support make a difference. Sponsored children and youth, for example, often write about how they are progressing in school or how the benefits of the program impact them and their families. Program outcomes: Programs at the project level are tailored to the needs of sponsored individuals and their families and the initiatives of Unbound in their communities. Families work with program staff to define and measure outcomes and utilize the results for continuous program improvement. With training and technical support from the evaluation team, these locally directed evaluations ask questions like: What is the program accomplishing? How are families different now? What could we do better? Global outcomes: As an international organization, Unbound also recognizes the need to step back periodically and look at the big picture. Global evaluations explore questions of organizational outcomes for all program participants across borders and in every region. These broad assessments help us tell our collective story and understand the effectiveness of our approach in key areas such as educational attainment, economic self-sufficiency, empowerment of mothers and community participation. Each tier of our evaluation framework is important to understanding the whole of Unbounds impact and its complex contribution to individual goals around the world. Governing board's role in monitoring outcomes On behalf of sponsored individuals, their families and sponsors, the Unbound Governing Board rigorously monitors the integrity and accountability of the organization's operations. The board proactively defines the outcomes expected from the organization. Management must then produce verifiable data proving progress toward the expected outcomes. Management chooses the means to achieve the boards ends. However, the board sets ethical and prudent limits on which means management may use. The board systematically monitors compliance with these executive limitations. As a result, the board assures donors that their contributions achieve their promised objectives, and that the organization remains transparent and ethical. Monitoring activities and evaluation methods Unbound conducts financial and program audits of projects on a regular basis to ensure financial resources provide intended benefits and services and sponsored members are empowered to direct their own development. In addition, almost all projects receive at least one visit by headquarters staff every year. Staff members also accompany sponsors on Unbound awareness trips visiting projects and families in the program. In 2018, headquarters staff collectively spent more than 1,260 days in the field monitoring and supporting programs. In addition, the organization performs quality checks on letters and photos from sponsored friends to their sponsors, and monitors member retirement rates and sponsor retention rates. Unbound collects educational attendance and performance data and documents the final education level achieved by sponsored members leaving the program. Unbound projects around the world conduct evaluations in their local contexts to determine outcomes for sponsored members and their families. Methods include surveys of sponsored members on income and skill development, focus groups on attitudes and behavioral changes, and interviews to document empowerment. Organization-wide program evaluations focus on four key domains: education, economic status, community participation and empowerment. Empowerment refers to ones ability to make decisions for oneself and act freely in a way that is intentional and goal-oriented. Examples of program success |
| Education | Sponsorship helps children achieve a level of education that prepares them to compete with peers for jobs and be educated community members, parents and leaders. At a global level, at the point of leaving the program, 75 percent of sponsored children achieved a level of schooling comparable to or above national peer averages, according to data gathered from 2011-2014. This means that Unbound students - despite marginalization based on economic, social and geographic factors - were able to compete and excel alongside students from all socioeconomic brackets and areas within their countries. Of these former sponsored children, 51 percent achieved educational levels a year or more above their national peer averages. The number jumped to 59 percent achieving a year or more above their national peer averages when looking at the experience of sponsored girls. This, along with country-level analysis, indicated a specific impact on girls education and a closing or reversing of the prominent gender gap present in many communities. In Guatemala, for example, sponsored children, on average, achieved almost three years of schooling more than the national average for their peers. And in Unbound's Quezon program in the Philippines, 57 percent of sponsored youth pursued post-secondary education compared to 30 percent of their peers. New education data is being collected in 2019. Families Sponsorship impacts the sponsored child and the entire family. Unbounds direct work through a personalized benefit model and parent groups means families are able to best allocate resources for their children and direct how the program supports their development as families. Most sponsored children have representation in the program through small parent/guardian groups. These groups provide the space for families to have a voice in the program and be part of a supportive community, addressing two significant components of poverty: lack of choices and isolation. In 2017, an evaluation measuring the empowerment of mothers of sponsored children was performed. It compared those mothers to mothers who are waiting for their children to be sponsored. The evaluation found that parents of children sponsored through Unbound displayed a stronger level of ownership of psychological assets - such as happiness, control, goal setting and self-esteem - than the wait-list parents did. Unbound mothers were members in community groups, organizations, networks or associations as well. Mothers and guardians in Unbound reported feeling they are having a greater impact on their communities. Thirty percent of Unbound mothers said they were involved in making decisions within their communities compared to 16 percent of mothers in the comparison group. Evaluation results showed how more women in Unbound are taking economic risks starting small businesses to enact change. More women in the Unbound program have their own businesses, and fewer women in the program are unemployed than mothers in the comparison group. More mothers in Unbound also reported having complete choice in deciding or changing their occupations. This evaluation was a follow-up to a 2013 global evaluation on the same topic. The 2017 study revealed that 90 percent of mothers of sponsored children believed they had the power to change their familys situation, and 63 percent reported they were active in solving problems in their communities, among other findings on participation and empowerment indicators. Unbound is now in the fifth year of a six-year longitudinal data collection on economic outcomes for sponsored members and their families. The evaluation includes both quantitative and qualitative data and follows families from the time they begin the program. Elders Elders in communities where Unbound works face challenges related to health, access to care and medicine, and loneliness. Unbound seeks to overcome these challenges through monthly benefits such as food assistance, help with health and medical expenses, home visits and group activities. In 2018, an evaluation was conducted to measure Unbounds impact with elders in relation to overcoming these challenges. The results were overwhelmingly positive. Sponsored elders experience a lower sense of emptiness, encountered less frequent feelings of rejection, and underwent fewer moments of missing having people around than the elderly population who live in similar circumstances but are not part of the Unbound sponsorship program. Additionally, sponsored elders feel they can rely on other individuals when they have problems, believe they can trust others in their lives, and consider themselves close to others in contrast to those elders who were waiting to participate in the Unbound sponsorship program. Sponsored elders felt at ease when talking with more people about private matters, and they have more close friends to call on for help compared to non-sponsored elders. Sponsored elders did not worry as frequently about insufficient food intake, did not have to limit variety of food, and did not go as hungry compared to elders outside of the program who more frequently experienced these conditions. Lastly, the study revealed that sponsored elders had greater access to medicine and medical care than those elders who were waiting to be sponsored by Unbound. According to the survey, 66 percent of sponsored elders said they received needed medical care, compared to 40 percent on the waiting list. The results of this evaluation aid in our understanding of the effectiveness of the Unbound programs global impact with elders and help us make decisions to improve how the program serves elders globally. Finally, various project (community) level evaluations are ongoing and led by program staff in each country. The primary purpose of evaluations at the project level is to ensure continuous program improvements and adaptations to the ever-changing world around the program. For example, a 2018 evaluation conducted in Trichy, India, showed that there was a need for the project to focus on and prioritize the needs of the vast majority of mothers who were single, divorced or widowed as they expressed their challenges in expanding their livelihood (income-generating) activities. Another 2018 evaluation in Meru, Kenya, led to an increased understanding of the challenges that sponsored members were facing in writing to their sponsors, assisting the projects in developing interventions to support the sponsored members in their efforts to connect with their sponsors through honest and authentic letters. A 2018 evaluation in Bogota, Colombia, revealed how mothers groups are helping mothers change their lives through leadership development, livelihoods, increased self-esteem and goal setting. |
| Feedback from sponsors | Unbound recognizes sponsors and other benefactors not merely as donors but, first and foremost, as highly valued and respected members of the Unbound community. Both sponsors and sponsored persons have something to gain from the sponsorship relationship, and toward that end Unbound is committed to helping sponsors become more aware of the realities of global poverty and grow in human solidarity. The staff at Unbound take exceptional care in communications with sponsors, whether dealing with routine account matters or in the production of publications and digital content. The goal is for sponsors to be informed about what happens in programs so they understand how their contributions are being used and become more invested in the lives of those they help. In October through December of 2017, Unbound conducted a survey to determine what sponsors value about the sponsorship relationship and where communication fits into it. Respondents were asked about ways they engage with Unbound. Among the findings were: 1. Eighty-five percent of respondents reported they read printed material they receive in the mail from Unbound (including publications and information included with payment receipts). 2. Fifty-two percent reported that they read emails from Unbound. 3. Twenty-five percent of survey respondents reported they visit the Unbound website. 4. Of those who reported visiting the website, a large majority, 85 percent, stated the reason they visit is to send eLetters to their sponsored friends. Secondary reasons were to make payments or learn more about Unbound. 5. Fourteen percent of sponsors taking the survey reported that they call Unbound for questions, comments or needs related to their sponsorship. 6. Nine percent of survey respondents reported they have hosted or volunteered at an event promoting Unbound. 7. Five percent of respondents reported they read Unbound's blog or social media updates. Perhaps the most significant indicator of a quality sponsor experience is that Unbound maintains a high sponsor retention rate. Unbound ended 2018 with a retention rate of 92.8 percent. Another indicator of a quality sponsor experience is the number of people, 31,557 in 2018, who sponsor more than one child or elderly person through the organization. Sponsors who travel on Unbound awareness trips have a special opportunity to deepen their experience by meeting their sponsored friends, learning about their sponsored friends lives and cultures, and seeing firsthand the change individuals and families are creating with their support. In 2018, 725 people participated in 30 awareness trips in 12 countries. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4B | Following are examples of achievements in education as Unbound works with students in our scholarship program. Educational support provided by Unbound's scholarship program helps talented older students who, because of economic circumstances, are struggling to continue their educations. The program is based on principles of perseverance, leadership and service to the community. The scholarship program complements the educational support provided by the Unbound sponsorship program, with 52 percent of scholarship students also sponsored. Unbound scholarships have helped students in communities around the world achieve their educational goals. Students are able to complete their educations, follow their chosen career paths and be of service to the larger community. Scholarships are used for needs such as secondary, post-secondary and vocational school tuition; transportation; school supplies and books. Students are selected by local program staffs based on economic need, commitment to completing their educations, demonstrated leadership potential and interest in community service. Scholarship students participate in service projects as a requirement of the program. Scholarships are intended as supplemental assistance, and students and their families contribute what they can toward educational costs. In 2018, scholarship grants to Unbound field offices totaled more than $3.5 million. Scholarships were awarded to 8,835 students in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, the Philippines, Tanzania and Uganda. Many scholars are sponsored youth who need extra financial help in addition to sponsorship support to complete their educations. Qualified non-sponsored older students identified by local Unbound staffs as being in need of educational assistance are also eligible for scholarships and represent 48 percent of those awarded. The service requirement is an important component of the program. Service may include tutoring, helping children in the sponsorship program write letters to their sponsors in the U.S., translating letters or performing work related to their fields of study. A number of former scholars work for Unbound as staff members after they graduate. They bring to their work a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective on the program and their communities. Monitoring program success Scholars are required to maintain good grades in addition to fulfilling service requirements. Local Unbound staffs monitor students to make sure they are meeting program requirements, and they provide annual reports on the scholarship programs. Unbound has also initiated qualitative evaluation of the scholarship program with alumni, utilizing a group mind-mapping process and individual interviews to explore long-term outcomes. Examples of program success Unbound conducted Ripple-Effect Mapping (REM) in 2015 with 32 program alumni from rural communities in Guatemala and in 2013 with more than 80 program alumni in the Metro Manila area of the Philippines. REM is a participatory and qualitative evaluation method used to learn the intended and unintended results of the program. While the contexts of groups were dramatically different, with different geographies and significant cultural differences, the similarities between the outcomes strengthen the argument for what might be Unbound's contribution through the scholarship and sponsorship programs. Alumni participating in the qualitative evaluation in the Philippines, on average three years out of the program, were pursuing careers such as teaching, nursing, accounting and architectural design. Alumni participating in the evaluation in Guatemala, on average six years out of the program, mentioned employment as teachers, police officers, bakers and small-business owners. Most of the evaluation participants were employed on a full-time basis. Among the key findings were: 1. Gratitude and giving back: The feeling of gratitude and actively giving back were both connected and common across the ripple maps in Guatemala and the Philippines. Participants expressed how individuals and communities in poverty can focus internally on what little they have, but through Unbound they began to see their strengths and assets. This gratitude for what they had and for what was shared through Unbound spurred a desire to help others, whether family, friends or strangers. 2. Pride: A deep sense of pride and personal accomplishment came forward in the maps of both countries. It is a pride that comes from educational accomplishments and the ability to sustain ones family. However, it also comes from being part of, or associated with, the Unbound program itself (Philippines) or having a sponsor (Guatemala). 3. Education: Education and academic achievement show up in all ripple-effect maps created in Guatemala and the Philippines; however, their positioning and value differ between the two countries. Guatemalans viewed education as a key outcome and means to their most significant outcomes. Attaining an education meant gaining access to professional employment and caring for their families. It brought about satisfaction and pride. In the Philippines, however, alumni emphasized education as an end in itself. Having an education was the outcome. The most significant, long-term outcomes of the Unbound program were overwhelmingly real and intangible. Housing and health, education and work were all present in the lives of Unbound alumni, yet the core of the impact remaining for formerly sponsored members lies in a moral, character-centered, reflective and goal-oriented worldview. This intangible core appears to offer a foundation for the alumni to continue to build their own tangible ripples in providing for their families and assisting community members. One benefit of the ripple-effect-mapping method, over separate evaluations of each outcome domain, is that we can see more clearly that there are links between physical and psycho-social-spiritual development. This makes an excellent case for the personalized attention, program activities and relationships that complement tangible sponsorship benefits. These components can also be called benefits. "The beauty is that each family can choose what is needed in each moment," said one participant in Guatemala. Each individual tells a different story, but all are united in their experience with Unbound. So, while these experiences do cause us to recognize the significant influences of external factors in the lives of individuals, they also emphasize the remarkable flexibility of the Unbound program. It has the potential to contribute to an individual's path out of poverty in ways unlike a standard aid-distribution or community-based development approach. At various locations around the world, community-level evaluations are ongoing and being led by program staff in each country. The primary purpose of evaluations at the local level is to ensure continuous program improvements and adaptations to the ever-changing world around the program. For example, a 2017 evaluation in Meru, Kenya, found that scholars face challenges meeting service and learning requirements. The Unbound team in Meru is working with scholars to find solutions to this problem. Multiple evaluations are being conducted in 2019. The Unbound Hermano Pedro team in Guatemala is evaluating both the educational achievement and the service component of the scholarship program there. The team will be learning how scholars are assisting sponsored students in improving their educational outcomes. The Unbound program in Lima, Peru, is evaluating the community impact of the trainings, activities and workshops scholars provide to the sponsored community. The Unbound team in Honduras is measuring the leadership development of scholars to learn how the program requirements are building leadership skills. The results of these evaluations are expected by mid-2019. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 4 | THE NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS WAS CHANGED TO NOT LESS THAN FIVE AND NO MORE THAN NINE PERSONS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B | AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FIRM PREPARES THE 990. THE 990 IS THEN REVIEWED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S PRESIDENT/CEO AND ACCOUNTING PERSONNEL. ANY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THE ORGANIZATION'S PRESIDENT/CEO AND ACCOUNTING PERSONNEL HAVE ARE ADDRESSED AND ANY CORRECTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE ARE MADE. THE 990 IS THEN PROVIDED TO THE FULL BOARD FOR THEIR REVIEW. ANY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS OF THE BOARD ARE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS ARE MADE PRIOR TO FILING THE 990. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | ALL BOARD MEMBERS ANNUALLY DISCLOSE THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITIES, EMPLOYMENT, STAFF, VENDORS OR ANY OTHER ASSOCIATIONS THAT MIGHT POTENTIALLY PRODUCE A CONFLICT, REGARDLESS OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN ACTUAL CONFLICT ARISING. NEW BOARD NOMINEES ALSO COMPLETE A DISCLOSURE FORM. WHEN THE BOARD IS TO DECIDE AN ISSUE THAT PRESENTS AN UNAVOIDABLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR A MEMBER, THE MEMBER WITH THE CONFLICT ABSTAINS FROM PARTICIPATION IN BOTH THE DELIBERATION AND VOTE. ALL EMPLOYEES ANNUALLY SIGN A RECEIPT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF UNBOUND'S CODE OF CONDUCT WHICH FORBIDS A CONFLICT OR THE APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE'S PERSONAL INTERESTS AND THOSE OF UNBOUND. THE EMPLOYEE'S SIGNATURE ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR AGREEMENT TO ADHERE TO THIS CODE AND TO IMMEDIATELY DISCLOSE A SUSPECTED CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO A STAFF DIRECTOR, MEMBER OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT OR CONFIDENTIALLY THROUGH UNBOUND'S INDEPENDENT REPORTING SERVICE. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINES 15A & 15B | The compensation of the President/CEO for June 2018-June 2019 was determined at the June 2018 Governing Board of Directors Meeting. Prior to this discussion, the President/CEO and the non-voting members of the board excused themselves from the board meeting. The voting members met with the Director of Human Resources who provided them with the following information which they used to determine the compensation amount. Using PayScale, which is an independent compensation consultant subscription program, market data research was reviewed based on current market pay for similar positions. Our Philosophy is to target the 25th to 50th percentile of the range where the job has been matched. It is also based on current market data within the "profit & non-profit" industries, containing up to 500 employees and matched on job responsibilities in the market place. The board considered other factors such as a comparison of compensation of executives from similar sponsorship organizations and a formal evaluation of job performance to determine the President/CEOs June 2018 - June 2019 compensation. The voting members then approved the annual salary for the President/CEO. Substantiation of the decision of the Boards determination was maintained by the Director of Human Resources. The compensation of the other officers (Treasurer and Secretary) was approved by their respective supervisor at Unbound. It was based on both a written job performance evaluation and a formal compensation system built for the entire organization utilizing the market pay PayScale evaluation program. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | UNBOUND'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, BY-LAWS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ALONG WITH IRS FORMS 1023, 990 AND 990-T ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT OUR OFFICES. UNBOUND'S AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IRS FORMS 990 AND 990-T ARE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE (WWW.UNBOUND.ORG). PRINTED COPIES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. |
| FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 | CHANGE IN UNINSURED ANNUITY OBLIGATIONS $1,536 |
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