Unbound previously Christian Foundation for Children and Aging/ CFCA 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 4/12/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Unbound creates a worldwide community of compassion through personal outreach.
Unbound's highest priority is one-to-one sponsorship of children, youth and aging. Unbound sponsorship is a reciprocal relationship of mutual respect and support.
Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Kansas City, Kan., Unbound serves more than 317,000 children, youth and the aging in 25 developing countries. Through the generous support of primarily U.S.-based sponsors, Unbound provides basic life necessities, such as food, education, health care and more. Additionally, the organization provides livelihood training programs for parents, and seeks to help families become self-sustaining, live with dignity and effect change in their communities. Sponsors get to know their sponsored friends through letters and photographs, and some sponsors travel to meet the people they support on Unbound-hosted mission awareness trips. Unbound is grounded in the Gospel call to serve the poor and works with persons of all faith traditions. Please visit www.unbound.org, or call (800) 875-6564 or (913) 384-6500 for more information.
Contact information
Mailing address:
One Elmwood Ave
Kansas City, KS 66103-3719
Website: www.unbound.org
Phone: (800) 875-6564
Email: mail@unbound.org
Organization details
EIN: 431243999
CEO/President: Mr. Scott Wasserman
Chairman: David Herbison
Board size: 15
Founder: Hentzen siblings & Jerry Tolle
Ruling year: 1981
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Unbound (previously known as Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA)) creates a worldwide community of compassion through personal outreach.
Unbound's highest priority is one-to-one sponsorship of children, youth and aging. Unbound's sponsorship is a reciprocal relationship of mutual respect and support.
Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Kansas City, Kan., Unbound serves more than 317,000 children, youth and the aging in 25 developing countries. Through the generous support of primarily U.S.-based sponsors, Unbound provides basic life necessities, such as food, education, health care and more. Additionally, the organization provides livelihood training programs for parents, and seeks to help families become self-sustaining, live with dignity and effect change in their communities. Sponsors get to know their sponsored friends through letters and photographs, and some sponsors travel to meet the people they support on Unbound-hosted mission awareness trips. Unbound is grounded in the Gospel call to serve the poor and works with persons of all faith traditions. Please visit www.unbound.org, or call (800) 875-6564 or (913) 384-6500 for more information.
Mission statement
Unbound uses the following to express its mission:
Unbound's mission is to walk with the poor and marginalized of the world.
- 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.
- We invite people of good will to live in daily solidarity with the world's poor through one-to-one sponsorship.
- We build community by fostering relationships of mutual respect, understanding and support that are culturally diverse, empowering and without religious or other prejudice.
Statement of faith
Unbound uses the following to express its Statement of Faith:
Unbound is a lay Catholic organization working with persons of all faith traditions to create a worldwide community of compassion and service.
Unbound is grounded in the Gospel call to serve the poor. We recognize Christ embodied in each person and prayerfully strive to apply the preferential option for the poor expressed in Catholic social doctrine.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 208 of 1010 | 21 of 84 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 273 of 1012 | 26 of 84 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 219 of 1012 | 17 of 84 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 516 of 1010 | 41 of 84 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 98% | 97% | 100% | 98% | 99% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 2% | 3% | 0% | 2% | 1% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 86% | 93% | 93% | 93% | 93% | 92% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 94% | 94% | 97% | 94% | 97% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 83% | 87% | 87% | 90% | 87% | 89% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 6% | 6% | 3% | 6% | 3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 12% | 13% | 7% | 15% | 9% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.71 | 1.71 | 2.00 | 2.23 | 2.37 | 2.72 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.28 | 1.04 | 1.05 | 1.06 | 1.07 | 1.09 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.64 | 1.78 | 2.10 | 2.36 | 2.54 | 2.98 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.01 | 16.09 | 26.97 | 25.24 | 26.84 | 23.51 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.42 | 6.31 | 5.50 | 4.88 | 4.55 | 3.86 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 14% | 7% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 41% | 54% | 48% | 43% | 41% | 35% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $17,426,373 | $13,894,735 | $12,586,057 | $11,931,578 | $11,945,391 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,666,596 | $1,033,994 | $1,040,671 | $1,221,540 | $1,267,919 |
| Short-term investments | $55,915,365 | $48,499,148 | $41,435,131 | $37,274,287 | $28,719,695 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $75,008,334 | $63,427,877 | $55,061,859 | $50,427,405 | $41,933,005 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $3,089,208 | $3,204,050 | $3,348,367 | $3,510,097 | $3,931,275 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $3,089,208 | $3,204,050 | $3,348,367 | $3,510,097 | $3,931,275 |
| Total assets | $78,097,542 | $66,631,927 | $58,410,226 | $53,937,502 | $45,864,280 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $4,661,094 | $1,780,407 | $1,598,912 | $1,416,811 | $1,303,144 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $571,238 | $582,919 | $461,733 | $480,850 |
| Total current liabilities | $4,661,094 | $2,351,645 | $2,181,831 | $1,878,544 | $1,783,994 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $636,619 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $636,619 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $5,297,713 | $2,351,645 | $2,181,831 | $1,878,544 | $1,783,994 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $40,146,228 | $31,597,985 | $23,958,747 | $20,284,746 | $14,778,421 |
| With donor restrictions | $32,653,601 | $32,682,297 | $32,269,648 | $31,774,212 | $29,301,865 |
| Net assets | $72,799,829 | $64,280,282 | $56,228,395 | $52,058,958 | $44,080,286 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $139,403,527 | $137,342,201 | $133,867,369 | $133,688,878 | $127,376,954 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $771,782 | $1,870,542 | ($1,481,759) | $1,000,913 | $524,049 |
| Other revenue | $2,028,855 | $2,009,176 | $1,857,164 | $1,330,244 | $1,144,428 |
| Total other revenue | $2,800,637 | $3,879,718 | $375,405 | $2,331,157 | $1,668,477 |
| Total revenue | $142,204,164 | $141,221,919 | $134,242,774 | $136,020,035 | $129,045,431 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $123,811,020 | $123,379,605 | $121,140,867 | $118,674,860 | $115,148,019 |
| Management and general | $4,525,212 | $4,640,952 | $4,460,908 | $4,409,871 | $4,290,741 |
| Fundraising | $5,348,385 | $5,149,475 | $4,471,562 | $4,956,632 | $5,436,664 |
| Total expenses | $133,684,617 | $133,170,032 | $130,073,337 | $128,041,363 | $124,875,424 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $8,519,547 | $8,051,887 | $4,169,437 | $7,978,672 | $4,170,007 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $8,519,547 | $8,051,887 | $4,169,437 | $7,978,672 | $4,170,007 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Scott Wasserman | President/Ceo (non-Voting) | $269,918 |
| Steve McClain | Director of Outreach | $161,300 |
| Rob McElroy | Lead Software Architect | $160,928 |
| Martin Kraus | Treasurer (non-Voting)/Dir Fin | $156,540 |
| Dan Winholtz-Pearson | Director of International Prog | $146,663 |
| Mary Geisz | Director of Sponsor Experience | $136,818 |
| John Dougherty | Director of Technology Service | $135,771 |
| William Hansen | Secretary (non-Voting)/Fin Mgr | $92,879 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2019
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 4/12/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Unbound began in 1981 through the visionary leadership of Bob, Bud and Jim Hentzen, their sister, Nadine Pearce, and their friend Jerry Tolle. When Bob Hentzen and Tolle returned to the U.S. after being missionaries in Latin America, they had a desire to continue serving the poor in developing countries.
Early on, they decided that sponsorship was the perfect opportunity to address extreme poverty and give people of good will in the U.S. and the poor in developing countries a way to be in relationship with each other. Bob Hentzen and Tolle emphasized sponsorship as a reciprocal relationship that recognizes and respects the dignity and equality of all persons. Unbound's current mission statement conveys the same ideas and principles. Unbound moved from the basement of Bob Hentzen's home to a farmhouse in south Kansas City and finally, in 1991, to a converted warehouse in the industrial district close to downtown Kansas City.
Bob Hentzen died Oct. 8, 2013. He previously served as the organization's president and overseer to the international operations.
Today, Unbound serves some 317,000 children, youth and the aging in 25 countries with the help of more than 273,000 sponsors. The organization accomplishes its work in developing countries through independent Unbound legal entities and by partnering with community organizations, missionary orders and churches at more than 70 projects and 1,700 subproject sites in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. In witness to CFCA's love for the poor, Bob Hentzen, in 1996 (at the age of 60), walked from Kansas City to Guatemala. His walk serves as a touchstone moment for Unbound and is symbolic of the organization's mission to be in solidarity with or, in other words, to "walk with" the poor and marginalized of the world.
Program accomplishments
As of Jan. 1, 2008:
- 317,097 children, youth, aging and vocational candidates are served through Unbound
- 273,991 individuals sponsor a CFCA child, youth or aging friend
- In 2007, 3,410 Unbound young people completed their education and graduated.
- In 2006, Unbound awarded more than $1.9 million through 6,616 scholarships for secondary, post-secondary and vocational education, almost triple the number awarded in 2001.
Needs
Unbound has expressed the following needs:
Unbound invites people of good will to commit to an ongoing relationship in which they contribute $30 a month in sponsorship support and encourage their sponsored friend through correspondence.
Unbound also seeks donors for its scholarship program. Unbound scholarships provide educational assistance to youth in developing countries who wish to attend secondary school, college or vocational school but lack economic resources.