Unbound (nonprofit organization)
Unbound, formerly the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, is a nonprofit sponsorship organization headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas. Unbound was founded by lay Catholic workers acting on the Gospel call to serve the poor. Its sponsorship program provides direct cash transfers to sponsored members who determine how to use their cash benefits to meet their goals. Beyond basic necessities such as food, housing, clothing and access to medical care, sponsored members frequently utilize their benefits to pay for education costs or to start or expand small business ventures.[1] Unbound sponsors support more than 260,000 children, youth and aging persons in 17 countries.[2][3]
| Founded | November 20, 1981 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Bob Hentzen, Bud Hentzen, Jim Hentzen, Nadine Pearce and Jerry Tolle |
| Type | Charitable organization, Non-governmental organization, Child sponsorship organization |
| Focus | Poverty eradication and global development through one-to-one sponsorship, scholarships, livelihood programs and community development initiatives |
| Location |
|
Area served | 17 countries |
Key people | Ashley Hufft, Interim President and CEO |
| Website | https://www.unbound.org |
Formerly called | Christian Foundation for Children and Aging |
History
The Christian Foundation for Children and Aging was founded on November 20, 1981, by siblings Bob Hentzen, Bud Hentzen, Jim Hentzen, Nadine Pearce and their friend Jerry Tolle. The siblings wanted to start a nonprofit to honor their late parents. Bob and Jerry were both missionaries who had witnessed firsthand the effects of poverty in developing countries, so they formed a sponsorship organization based on Catholic social teaching.
The first headquarters was in Hentzen's basement in Kansas City, Missouri.
Nearly 1 million children, youth and elders and their families have been served through the sponsorship program.
On January 1, 2014, the name of the organization was changed to Unbound. To explain the planned name change, Hentzen said in 2013, "We walk side-by-side with people who dream of freeing themselves from poverty, as they strive to achieve self-sufficiency and build strong communities. Our new name sums up our work." The former president and CEO, Scott Wasserman, said that rather than a bunch of initials, what "Bob wanted was a single word capturing the essence of Catholic social teaching and empowering the poor."[4]
Hentzen died in October 2013 at the age of 77, and the National Catholic Reporter eulogized his work.[5]
Programs
Sponsorship Program
Unbound uses a one-to-one sponsorship model of direct support. Its sponsorship program aims to help families living in extreme poverty by connecting them with sponsors. Sponsorship requires a $40 monthly commitment to help fund basic necessities and, in many instances, livelihood programs to help families become self-sustaining.
Sponsors have the opportunity to offer encouragement and support for their sponsored friends through the exchange of letters and photos. They also may choose to travel on Unbound Awareness Trips to meet their sponsored friends, learn about their lives and see how contributions are used.
Ninety-eight percent of Unbound sponsored friends participate in programs that deliver benefits through direct cash transfers.[6]
Unbound Scholarship Program
The Unbound Scholarship Program provides educational scholarships to students pursuing secondary, post-secondary and vocational school. Scholarships are used for tuition, transportation, school supplies and books. Recipients are selected by local Unbound staff based on economic need, commitment to completing their education, demonstrated leadership potential and interest in community service. Recipients perform service projects as a requirement of the program.
Financials and Ratings
More than 91% of Unbound's expenses go toward program support. In 2022, 3.8% of expenses were for administration and fundraising accounted for 4.8% of total expenses.
Charity Navigator gives Unbound a 4-star rating based on program expenses, administrative expenses, fundraising expenses and operating efficiency.[7]
The American Institute of Philanthropy gives Unbound an A+ rating in its Charity Rating Guide. It is the only child sponsorship organization to hold this rating from the institute.[8]
Unbound meets all 20 standards established by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance.[9]
Unbound receives the distinction of Top-Rated Nonprofit from Great Nonprofits, based on reviews from people who donate to or benefit from nonprofit organizations.[10]
Unbound holds the Platinum GuideStar Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar.[11]
Countries served
Unbound currently works with children and elders in 17 countries around the world.
References
- https://www.unbound.org/how-sponsorship-works
- Unbound website, www.unbound.org.
- Shahriari, Sarah. Bob Hentzen walks to help poor children across Latin America Christian Science Monitor. May 2, 2011.
- "The future of Christian Foundation for Children and Aging is Unbound". The Catholic Key. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- "Christian Foundation for Children and Aging co-founder Bob Hentzen dies". National Catholic Reporter. October 11, 2013. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- https://www.unbound.org/about/approach
- "Charity Navigator - Rating for Unbound". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- Top Rated Charities American Institute of Philanthropy. August 19, 2011.
- BBB Wise Giving Report for Christian Foundation for Children and Aging Issued March 2011. Expires March 2013.
- https://greatnonprofits.org/org/unbound-1
- https://www.guidestar.org/profile/43-1243999