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Top Rated

Unbound

CharityWatch report issued
December 2021

Top-Rated Charity
A+
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
93%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$4
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Unbound
1 Elmwood Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66103

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.unbound.org

Stated Mission

To walk with the poor and marginalized of the world. Partners with families living in poverty, empowering them to become self-sufficient and fulfill their desired potential.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2020

Program Percentage: 93%

The percentage of Unbound's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$134,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $4

How many dollars Unbound spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$139,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Unbound IRS Form 990 43-1243999
Unbound Audited Consolidated Financial Statements 43-1243999
Entity: Unbound
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 43-1243999
Entity: Unbound
Document Type: Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
Tax ID: 43-1243999

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Unbound
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Unbound
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy No Sharing  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Scott Wasserman President/CEO $286,213
2 Rob McElroy Lead Software Architect $181,046
3 Steve McClain Director of Outreach $171,907
1
Name: Scott Wasserman
Title: President/CEO
Compensation: $286,213
2
Name: Rob McElroy
Title: Lead Software Architect
Compensation: $181,046
3
Name: Steve McClain
Title: Director of Outreach
Compensation: $171,907

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of Unbound does not include the financial activities of the 37 project offices in 19 countries with which it partners.

According to the Unbound consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1, re: Nature of Operations):

"Unbound also partners with 37 project offices in 19 countries to administer the various organization programs. Because Unbound does not exercise control over the project offices, the operations of the project offices are not consolidated in Unbound's [audited] consolidated financial statements..."

According to the Unbound consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 4, Paycheck Protection Program Loan):

"In April 2020, Unbound received a loan through the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program established by the CARES Act. A portion or all of the loan may be eligible for forgiveness under the CARES Act. Unbound submitted the application for forgiveness in October 2020, however, the SBA has not forgiven any portion of the obligation under the loan. Payments of principal and interest are deferred until the date of notice from the SBA if the loan is forgiven or not entitled to forgiveness. In the event the forgiveness application is denied, the balance due on the loan and interest of 1 percent is payable in monthly installments through April 2022."


According to the Unbound consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 8, Risks and Uncertainties):

"As a result of the spread of the SARS-Co-V-2 virus and the incidence of COVID-19, economic uncertainties have arisen which may negatively affect the financial position, change in net assets and cash flows of Unbound. The duration of these uncertainties and the ultimate financial effects cannot be reasonably estimated at this time."

According to the Unbound 2020 tax filing re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

"Prior to travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Anabella Wasserman, wife of Scott Wasserman, President/CEO of Unbound, traveled internationally with Mr. Wasserman and other Unbound staff to participate in project mentoring/monitoring and sponsor awareness trips to various Unbound projects. Unbound compensated Ms. Wasserman for her time as an independent contractor and paid for her airfare because her participation was for bona fide business purposes. Ms. Wasserman's long standing relationship with Unbound, previous involvement leading several church mission trips, being a native of Guatemala and being bi-lingual are just a few of the many attributes that enable her to work successfully and to help Unbound build meaningful relationships with project staff, awareness trip participants and sponsored families."