FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: LIVELIHOOD GROWTH
What types of proposals have been funded through Livelihood growth?
Donors who support Livelihood Growth help provide microgrants directly to entrepreneurs who have already started their business — a seamstress who needs more fabric, a shop owner ready for more inventory — and who simply need a boost to grow. It's about walking alongside someone who's already in motion and helping them take the next step toward stability and self-sufficiency for their family. Helping them uplifts not just individuals, but entire communities.
Funded proposals typically fall within the following business categories: food service, farming, beauty or health services, apparel, and retail. More than 1000 entrepreneurs have successfully scaled their microbusinesses since 2018 thanks to Livelihood Growth funding. Learn more about the impact.
Who can apply for a Livelihood Growth Grant?
Livelihood Growth grants are designed for entrepreneurs who have already started a microbusiness but need a little financial boost for growth and longer-term viability. Interested entrepreneurs, who are members of sponsored families, begin by participating in training workshops. Then, selection committees made up of a combination of mothers groups, community members and staff, choose beneficiaries based on determined criteria including level of development of the entrepreneurial initiative, the family’s socioeconomic conditions, results of the Poverty Stoplight Objective Orientation and alignment with Unbound’s objectives.
Can I partially fund a Livelihood Growth grant?
In the same way a sponsored friend has only one sponsor, each Livelihood Growth proposal has one donor who fully funds the entrepreneur’s proposal. However, you’re welcome to donate to our Livelihood Growth Fund, where your donation will be combined with others to support proposals that have gone the longest without receiving funding.
How do I donate to Livelihood Growth using my individual retirement account (IRA), donor advised fund (DAF), stocks, cryptocurrency or other non-cash assets?
Please read more here or call us at 800-875-6564. We’ll be happy to discuss options and help you through the process!
Visit Unbound.org/Proposals and use the filters to search by country or by category to find the proposal that’s closest to your heart.
Can I donate more money than what’s listed for a particular entrepreneur’s grant?
If you’d like to donate more than the amount requested, we ask that you consider funding an additional entrepreneur or donating the extra money to our Livelihood Growth Fund, which is used to fund proposals that don’t get selected by other donors. Thank you for being so thoughtful in supporting economic self-sufficiency for Unbound families!
Can a group or organization I’m a part of fund an entrepreneur’s Livelihood Growth proposal?
Because each proposal is funded through a single donation, we ask that your group combine contributions and submit them as one gift. Designating a group leader or committee to guide the process will help you when setting a fundraising goal, recording and acknowledging contributions for transparency, sharing updates and celebrating milestones.
At Unbound, we see the power of collective action every day. If your group or organization is inspired to support Livelihood Growth, we encourage you to work together to make a meaningful impact.
Will I receive any follow up from the entrepreneur?
Once an entrepreneur receives the funding, Unbound will send an acknowledgement report about two to three months later. The report will include a summary of how the microbusiness was impacted by the capital investment and how it helped the family.