The gift of brighter futures

Expanding education access in the developing world reduces global poverty, but tuition and supplies are expensive. The Unbound Scholarship Program can be the difference for students who feel forced to choose between continuing in school or dropping out due to challenges like:

• Lack of access to remote learning technology
• Limited earning opportunities to pay for school expenses
• Pressure to drop out of school to provide immediate financial support to their families

With your one-time or $20 minimum monthly donation, students who receive assistance through the Unbound Scholarship Program can continue pursuing education — whether for secondary school, vocational training or higher education — which is often the key to a path out of poverty.

How It Works

Individuals apply for an Unbound scholarship and are selected by a local scholarship committee based on merit, leadership potential and need.

Most scholars receive their scholarships via direct cash transfers. They decide the best way to use the funds for their educational needs (tuition, books, technology, etc.).

Scholars receive personalized guidance and ongoing support from local staff.

Scholars complete meaningful projects and training that develop their skills, confidence and interests. Community service activities instill values and a love for giving back, setting them up to be leaders in their communities.

Who Can Qualify

Any individual from any of the communities in the three regions of the world where we work can apply for an Unbound scholarship. Among Unbound’s scholarship recipients are high school youth, young adults, mothers of sponsored children and elders. No matter their age or stage of life, whether they are sponsored through Unbound or not, scholars can realize their dreams of an education and a better life for themselves and their families.

Scholarship Impact

Since its founding in 1998, the Unbound Scholarship Program has been instrumental in supporting thousands of individuals in poverty around the world in accessing education. Under one of Unbound’s five strategic program pillars, “Advancing Education,” the organization is working to increase educational attainment and job readiness for hundreds of thousands of marginalized students.

8,886

The number of students globally who were awarded an Unbound scholarship in 2025.

66%

Scholarship recipients in 2025 who were women.

$3.9m

The funding disbursed by Unbound in 2025 in support of the scholarship program.

Get the full impact of our scholarship program from our annual impact reports below and learn more about Unbound’s impact on eliminating global poverty overall.

Scholarship Impact Report 2025 Scholarship Impact Report 2024

Scholarship in Action

"As a mother and as a woman who has a dream, age is just a number. Because of Unbound, I am reaching my dream to finish my studies. It feels good to study again, and to just put aside my fears and doubts."

-May, Unbound scholar, Philippines

"When a passion arises within you, I believe that you do the impossible to reach the goal you set for yourself. I’m most passionate about working with photovoltaic systems, which goes hand in hand with what I [studied] in the field of electricity and technology."

- Jonathan, Unbound scholarship alum, El Salvador

"Giving back satisfies my heart. [As a scholar], when I do community service, it makes me see things differently. I notice that a lot of people have the same challenges as me, but in different ways. It exposes me to other mindsets and a lot of different ways of growth for people."

-Chelsey, Unbound scholar, Kenya

"I thank Unbound because they always believe that young people can achieve everything that they set out to do. Unbound gave me truth, knowledge and education. One never stops learning that knowledge is power. Now it is my turn to share that with the sponsored families."

-Bety Acosta, Unbound alum and staff in Honduras