Unbound

“Significant changes in the articles of incorporation and by-laws included: a. Board size changed to maximum of seven members, quorum to two-thirds of board members, term limits to 3 consecutive full terms. B. Distribution of assets upon dissolution changed to benefit of sponsored families. C. Conflict of interest provision included. D. Officer qualifications for secretary and treasurer changed to include non board members.”

“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 prior to filing the 990. Any questions and concerns of the board are addressed and corrections or clarifications are made prior to filing the 990.”

“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.”

“The compensation of the President/CEO for June 2015-June 2016 was determined at the June 2015 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: Utilizing the services of an independent compensation consultant group, Unbound built a formal compensation system for the entire organization. That data along with other external factors such as comparison of compensation of executives from similar sponsorship organizations helped the Board determine the President/CEOs June 2015-June 2016 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 services of an independent compensation consultant group.”

“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.”

“Unbound provides financial support, services and encouragement to individuals and their families living on the margins of society in 20 countries around the world. We serve more than 300,000 children, youth and elderly people with the support of more than 260,000 sponsors, mostly from the UNITED STATES Through education, livelihood opportunities, and help with food and other necessities. the personalized support offered through Unbound is designed to help people break through poverty to create better futures for their families and communities. Unbounds mission is to walk with the poor and marginalized of the world. 1. We provide personal attention and direct benefits to children, youth, the 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 works with persons of all faith traditions to create a worldwide community of compassion and service.”

“Total grants for the sponsorship program were $101.3 million in 2015. At the end of 2015, a total of 313,658 individuals were sponsored through Unbound. They included 284,989 children and youth, 28,374 elders and 295 candidates studying for religious vocations. Sponsored individuals and their families were served through Unbound projects in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti (for the first half of 2015), Honduras, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, the Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda and Venezuela. Following are examples of achievements in the sponsorship program as Unbound works with individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty. Unbounds sponsorship program helps individuals and their families in 20 countries on a path out of poverty by connecting them with individual sponsors and supportive local communities of staff members and other families. Sponsors, through a monthly financial contribution and letters, experience other cultures, friendship with someone in another part of the world and a practical way to make a lasting difference in the life of a child or elder. Sponsors who travel on Unbound awareness trips may meet their sponsored friends, learn about their lives and see firsthand the difference their support makes. In 2015, 644 people participated in 28 trips in 14 countries. Families participating in the sponsorship program use financial assistance to help with needs like education, nutrition, housing improvements, clothing and health care - in addition to leadership and economic development opportunities such as financial literacy, youth retreats and skill development for parents. Sponsorship requires active participation from families as they take a central role in selecting benefits for their children and building stronger communities. Sponsored individuals and their families partner with Unbound to make program and benefit decisions that help meet their basic needs and develop their potential over the course of their time in the program, sometimes 18 years or more. Outcomes vary by location but typically include education, leadership development, improved health and nutrition status, dignified housing, skill development and increased income through livelihood opportunities for families. Through Unbounds sponsorship program, families have more choices in their lives and are empowered, over time, to create a path out of poverty. Monitoring program success Monitoring and evaluation of programs Unbound is committed to learning from our work and ensuring that the work makes a positive impact in the lives of children, families and elders 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. Project 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 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”

“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 sponsors and those who are sponsored, the governing board of Unbound 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 to achieve the boards ends. The board systematically monitors compliance with these executive limitations. As a result, the board confidently 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 Unbound program. In 2015, headquarters staff spent 1,407 total 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 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 achieve a level of schooling comparative to or above national peer averages. This means that Unbound students - who experience marginalization based on economic, social and geographic factors - are able to compete and excel alongside students from all socioeconomic brackets and areas within their countries. Of these former sponsored children, 51 percent achieve educational levels a year or more above their national peer averages. The number jumps 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, indicates 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”

“Following are examples of achievements in education support as Unbound works with students in our service-scholarship program. Education support provided by Unbound's service-scholarship program helps talented older students who, because of economic circumstances, are struggling to continue their educations. The program is founded on the principles of perseverance, leadership and service to the community. The service-scholarship program complements the education support provided by the Unbound sponsorship program, with 47 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. Recipients are selected by local program staffs based on economic need, commitment to completing their educations, demonstrated leadership potential and interest in community service. Scholars 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 2015, scholarship grants to Unbound field offices totaled more than $2.5 million. Scholarships were awarded to 7,818 students in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, the Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda and Venezuela. Many scholars, 47 percent, are sponsored youth who need extra financial help in addition to sponsorship support to complete their educations. Non-sponsored older students identified by local Unbound staffs as being in need of educational assistance and having a desire to serve their communities are eligible for scholarships and represent 53 percent of the scholarships 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 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 their local service-scholarship programs. Unbound also initiated qualitative evaluation with alumni of the scholarship program, utilizing a group mind-mapping process and individual interviews to explore long-term outcomes. Examples of program success Unbound conducted Ripple-Effect Mapping (REM) with more than 80 program alumni in the Metro Manila area of the Philippines and with 32 program alumni from rural communities in Guatemala. REM is a participatory and qualitative evaluation method used to learn the intended and unintended results of the program. While the contexts of groups are dramatically different, with different geographies and significant cultural differences, the similarities between the outcomes strengthens the argument for what might be Unbound's contribution. Alumni participating in the qualitative evaluation in the Philippines, on average three years out of the program, are pursuing careers from teaching to nursing and accounting to architectural design. Alumni participating in the evaluation in Guatemala, on average six years out of the program, mentioned such current employment as teachers, police officers, bakers and small-business owners. Most of the evaluation participants are employed on a full-time basis. Amo”

“Change in uninsured annuity obligations ($2,451)”