All right. Welcome to the All Access podcast. And, uh, today I'm really excited because we all access team has grown. We have, uh, Paul Norell with us. Paul is our new, uh, chief Impact Advisor and we're gonna talk a little bit more about what that means. But, um, we have Paul with us today. Paul is just a lot of fun. It's been a lot of fun doing this with you, Paul, and so I'm excited to dive more into. Uh, your story.
Just introduce you to people and, uh, encourage people to connect with you and then hear more about what you're doing today and, and kind of impact advising as a whole and all that fun stuff. So, Paul, thanks for thanks for being on the team and, and thanks for joining this call.
Yeah, I'm super excited. It's, it's, uh, it has been a lot of fun. I I can tell you all the ways that I. I'm so impressed with how this has been handled with such integrity that, uh, I'm just really happy to be on board. It's, it's been, uh, already in this one month, uh, just so many great conversations with amazing followers and, and, uh, love that. So, um, it's, it's, it's a, a great fit for me
Hmm.
and I'm, I'm glad that I get to work with Elaine and, and, uh. see your heart, uh, for this organization and, and for the, the different funds and, and 5 0 1 c threes that, that are, are just, uh, So Excellent. Um, it, it's really been great to get to know the, the people who, who are in charge of that as
Yeah. Yeah. That's my favorite part. As much as I love, I do love advising, you know, folks, helping people give, especially young professionals, you know, who are, you know, just getting started and go, you know what, I, I want to make a bigger difference with my life outside of I. This and helping them do that and connecting them with those groups. You were just talking about the, the programs in our portfolio. So, uh, we have the best job in the world, I think. Uh, I love it.
It's a lot of, it's a lot of work. Uh, we see a lot of stuff in the field, um, that is broken, but, um, we're here to help. So, Paul, tell us, uh, more about where you're from.
Sure, sure. I was, uh, born and raised in Minneapolis, a little suburb called Minnetonka, Minnesota. Um, and, uh, thing about people who live in Minnesota. Nobody really ever moves to Minnesota, but nobody ever Minnesota. So I finally decided that I, I, I'd like to have a different experience, uh, like, well, it's what's wrong with Minnesota. I'm like, well, I have lived here for 50 years, is, you know, doesn't that gimme a free pass to get to to get outta here?
Um, do you want me to talk a little bit about my, uh,
Yeah. Well, tell us, so you, I know you went to, you went to Oral Roberts, and then
the quick, the
you gotta tell us about Kiki as well.
yes, my wife, um, so I, uh, fortunately was raised in a great Christian
Hmm.
is incredible. Was incredible. She's, she died at 94 years old, but both of my parents were very committed in their faith, and I had three. Uh, older brothers, two of them ended up being missionaries for YWAM and the Dominican Republic. So I was around that all the time. But I, I really think when I get to heaven, they'll say, you know, when, when did I actually become a Christian? I think, I think it was probably four years old. I'm, I'm,
Hmm.
on that one. But, you know, I did have to go through the, the whole thing when you go to college and say, well, what is it that I really believe? Or am I just believing what my parents. Taught me to believe. And so I went through that again and landed back with a, a stronger than ever in with, in Christ. And, and I've never, uh, looked back or had many doubts throughout my, throughout my whole life and my career. Um, I did, uh, go to Oral Roberts University, which was like.
Crazy when you live in Minnesota to go outta state. But, uh, two of my brothers went there. They liked it. I didn't particularly like it. Uh, it was a good education, but I,
Yeah.
it was a, you know, a, a a little legalistic. I've run into people's sense that I, that know what I'm talking about.
Yeah.
uh, you know, I got th got through that. And, uh, while I was there, uh, I met Kiki, my wife, um, Who, you know, so we, I, I stayed there for an ex, an extra year, um, while I da dated her, but then, uh, said I gotta get back to Minneapolis. So I moved back there,
Where's, where's Kiki from originally?
She is actually kind of a born in New Jersey, down in, uh, lived a little first 12 years in Atlanta. And then dad moved up over to Tulsa,
Okay. Got it.
and she went to, she went to Oklahoma State. So,
Got it.
um. Got married up in Minneapolis is a great place to raise a family. Um, I have three kids, a daughter that's now 33, son that's 30, and another son that's 28.
Nice.
Alex Grant and Cole. And, uh, so I, I'll get on the business side of it, but, but on the personal side, uh. said, it's just too cold here. We gotta get, we gotta get outta here.
Yeah.
said, oh, okay. 'cause he is, you know, I'm born and bred there. I
Mm-hmm.
feel it as, as much. And I said, okay, well if that's what we're gonna do, then we better start getting our kids interested in colleges in the south. And I kid you not, I ended up going with my daughter to 21, uh, out of state college tours. And yeah, and,
Any of those a and m.
everybody thought I was crazy that, I mean, that, that's, you know, almost a classic, uh, helicopter parent kind of thing. So, but she, she met some amazing girls who ended up in her, uh, wedding
Oh, cool.
uh, at Baylor University. She just came back from a meeting and said, dad, dad, this is where I want to go.
Wow.
I couldn't have been happier. In fact, I, I, I said, you know, I didn't really have the classic. College experience. So I'm all in, I'm going, I I'm buying season tickets. See it was the RG three days
Yeah.
uh, just loved it and had a blast. And, uh, we told our, our other boys, they can go other places, but they ended up at Baylor too. So we had all three of our kids at Baylor. And when our last one left, we like pretty much. We're walking behind them and packed up our, our everything. We owned and sold our home in Minnesota and moved, uh, down to Texas. And so it was a total miracle, really.
I mean, we, we, uh, ended up where all three of them graduated from Baylor, uh, got jobs in the DFW area and all married, uh, to great. Christian spouses and we're just amazingly blessed. And, and I have, we now have two, uh, grandchildren, which is one's about three and a half, and the other one's
Mm-hmm.
one on the way. So it's, it's, uh, it's been amazing of how God, God has blessed and, and just, you know, even the environment down here is just so incredible. I mean, it, it, you, you definitely can be way more. Open and comfortable with your faith, uh, praying over every meal. Uh, you know, just feeling that there's such a, a community here. Um, I remember when I came down here that, that one of the first things people would say is, Hey, nice to meet you. Where do you go to church?
And I was like, whoa, that, that's a little, that's a little private. I mean, that's, that's how
Yeah.
thought when in, when you're up, up in Minnesota. And, uh. So I, I, I actually enjoyed that, that coming down here. And, um, so on the, on the professional side, I really was more on the for-profit. I, I started off in, in an ad agency that was a pretty big ad agency in Minneapolis. Uh, ended up working at Nordic Track, the cross country ski exercise machine, which was amazing. Experience almost me. It was so, so many things to do. I was, I was running. Around like crazy.
Uh, and, but it was a great experience. And then I ended up landing, uh, with this company called Novus Nova Print Media, which was basically a, a broker of print ad space. And, uh, we were just a bunch of kids trying to figure out a, a, a good business. be doing a lot of traveling out to, to New York, to the publishers to say, we can fill your excess space. Um, and, uh. we grew the business to $350 million. And,
Wow.
that was, uh, pretty unheard of. And so we ended up selling the company to a media holding company called Omnicom.
Mm-hmm.
And uh, that was a wild ride. Um, we had a four year earnout. The first two years didn't go so well. We never had a down year in my 20 years there. Um, and it was, you know. Completely an entrepreneurial startup business that, that we, we were just running as fast as we could, um, and trying to figure out things. We used to say we were, you know, building the airplane as it's going down the runway kind of thing.
Yeah.
and, and that, that's what our, my life was like, really. Um, so a, after we sold, I stayed on board. I was a CEO. Uh, for another two or three years. And I stayed actually six more years after we sold. So I was there for 20 years and really the last partner to leave. Um, but then I was like, well, what do, what do I want to do? And what do I really like? And so I, I ended up being involved in some really fun, crazy swing for the fence, entrepreneurial businesses.
Uh. A couple that worked and one that definitely did not work. Um, and, and so when kind of coordinating this all together is, is when our last kid was leaving for Baylor, I was like, you know, uh, I, I'd love to be on the nonprofit side of things. I had read, you know, halftime by Bob Buford and really resonated with me of, um, going from success to significance. And, and uh, so that's when I. Met Joel Meyer and said, Hey, could you use a, a guy like me at NCF?
So I was with the National Christian Foundation for about three, three and a half years. And, uh, and loved it. But, you know, I wasn't a lawyer. I'm not a financial advisor, you know, advisor. So, uh, there I knew there was a point where I was like, okay, I'm gonna move on to the next thing. And that was Lionheart Children's Academy. So that was using the space in churches for, uh.
A childcare facility and you know, certainly a Christian side childcare facility where the church makes some money, they bring in families that they wouldn't have brought in and plus they can, um, start to, uh, tell about Christ. And so, uh, it was a great, it's a great model. Um, and did that for about three years. And, and then I got.
Hooked up with Lane and I, we had some great conversations and he said, we both kind of said, this would be great to, have me come on board and, and, uh, that's where we're at right now. So I'm about a month into it and, and totally loving it and we're having a great time. And just trying to, I mean, maybe I'm taking away one of your questions, but, uh, just being able to, to one, be. Available and, and, uh, working with the people who are already members or givers.
And then of course, just kind of being an evangelist and, and spreading the word about all access. I mean, I, I'd truly never seen anything like that. Uh, you know, for using the analytics or the model to be able to, to boil it down to the best of the best. Um, it was, is great to be transparent, having night every. You know, 90 days, uh, uh, your financial statement and an update on how things are, are progressing, and just really, working for the giver and, and not just, um, for the give
Mm-hmm.
Uh, and, uh, I love that, that too. So, um, just, just the, the, the integrity and the, and what I've, from everyone that I've met that knows Lane. It's just amazing. It just, um, it's, given me another reason to say this. This was what I'm looking for and, and, uh, what I hope I'll be here for many years to come. So,
I hope so too, Paul.
one question? 10 minute answer.
No, I, well, I appreciate you sharing that. And, uh, I mean, Paul, you're kind of a unicorn in a sense in that you, you're not just another ministry guy not to knock, uh, you know, just another ministry guys out there, but you're not, I mean, you've got, you, like many of our members of our fund, we're all business. I mean, I'm from engineering, you know, putting boats out the door. Um, you come from business and, uh.
A lot of the members of our fund are in business and so, you know, entrepreneurs, investors, and so you've, you've been there, done that. You have experience on the donor-advised fund side, the tax side of giving, which is, um, I. The most boring side. Um, but I'm glad it's there. It's a great tool to help with that side. But we're here on the side of, you know, okay, once you've given through a donor advice fund, where does it go after that?
And we just live at such an incredible time of what can happen if it, you know, depending on where it goes. And so we get to help people do that. So you are a wealth of, of wisdom and knowledge and helping people, you know, advise. Donors and, um, members of our fund. So I encourage members of our fund. If you haven't met Paul yet to, to connect with Paul, um, obviously anybody's welcome to join our fund. But, um, let's talk about what we're doing now.
'cause we, you know, over the last really three to four years, we have been really focused on the product itself. And, you know, we want to accelerate the great commission and great commandment. Using analytics and you know, we've given to I think 11 programs so far. I mean, we're getting close to $2 million granted and really, uh, pretty minimum or virtually no fundraising efforts.
We had our first fundraiser in November, just a few months ago, and, um, you know, we focused purely on providing a great service and now. To really move the needle in these places, we gotta get this in the hands of a lot more people and we have to have the capacity to do that well. So Paul is here to help us do that. Uh, and our position really, as you mentioned, is as an impact advisor on the same side of the table, helping people give.
Well, and so, uh, you know, I'm curious, Paul, what that's been like, you know, the last month or so of you having those conversations with people and inviting people to the funds. Um. Yeah, let's, let's talk about the, what it means to be an impact advisor.
yeah, I mean,
Yeah.
you see the, you know, smaller and then it gets bigger light bulbs going off of, you know, okay, now Paul's with this organization, he's gonna talk to me about this. And you know, obviously for me, I want. You know, I'm at that stage of life, whatever, that I, I want to, you know, I wanna learn about what they're doing, what their, uh, challenges are in, in, in life. And, uh, and then we obviously get to what I'm involved in now with all access.
And, um, a couple of things that, that really light up for, for them is, um, when you talk about the gift being a 100 to all access and that it isn't going to this big machine that, that is supporting all of these employees. And in fact, it's not at all going to that and it's going directly to those 8 or 10, uh, funds that we've, we've vetted out, um, as they start to go, oh, wow, that, that, that's great. I mean, uh, I even remember when my brothers were, uh.
On the mission field, I'd say, you know, I love supporting you guys, but what do you do with the money when it, when, when it, when I give it to you, I, I mean,
I think everybody deep down asked that. Yeah.
I'm, I'm the
Yeah.
of, I'm, I'm speaking for the, for the man, you know, to that is like, uh, what, what, what is happening with that? And he, you know, a lot of it is, we, have, uh, you know. You need to trust us and we have a history and all that stuff and all that's great. But, you know, seeing this, uh, you know, having a 100 go to the ministry, uh, is, has been really cool. And, but everybody I talk to, in fact, usually, uh, the person will bring up, well, how, you know.
Okay, so how do you and Lane and any others. You know, get paid and, and we'll say, okay, well glad you asked. We have this other account over here that a handful of people who, you know, typically, I'm not even sure if this is right lane, but here's what I say is, is that, you know, when you, when you become a member, um, you know, even if you came to us and said, I'd like to put money into the operations fund.
We, we were kind of saying, well, why don't, why don't you let a year go by and, and see if. You know, if, if we're meeting your expectations, like, you were on day one and, uh, and then, and then we'll come to you and say, you know, would you care to be involved in helping us out on the operations fund?
Yeah.
heard, I actually, other people that I've talked to that said, um, they've been involved with other organizations where they will give a hundred percent and then the, the, the, the. Benefits or, or the, uh, uh, different, uh, banquets that they would have. Um, it would be a a hundred, it would be all for operations. And I was like, wow.
That's, I don't know if I, what I think about that, but, but, um, but I haven't, other than that seen, heard anybody else that does this and I, and I think it's just, it's just really, important to, to be. Above reproach, you know, with everything. You
Yeah.
when I talk to somebody, I say, you know that Starbucks, I just bought, I just bought you. It's gonna be a line item, uh, on next quarter's report. You
Yep.
uh, and that that should be, you might not care, but it's there. We care, you
Mm-hmm.
it to be all, all out, all transparent. So, it's been refreshing to be able to, to take that position.
Yeah, I mean, it's. It's crazy. I mean, when I, I was looking at the math on, okay, what financially would it take to end poverty? Specifically extreme poverty? 'cause global economists have taken a crack at, at calculating that. You know, back in 2009, Jeffrey Sachs said it would take, you know, $175 billion. So pretty old data. But, you know, that's using a traditional aid model. Um, so you, you know, inflate that to today's dollars.
I mean, roughly $250 billion a year over the next 20 years to do that seems like a lot of money. Then you look at, okay, what are we already giving to charity, just Americans alone, and it's already double that. And you go, okay, like what is happening here? And, um, you know, the, the sys, the nonprofit sector has some quirks and it's, it's set up unfortunate in a way to that. It's quirky, but we just thought, well, if we're starting something, let's, what's the best way we could do it?
And this is where we landed, you know, the split account model. And you know, there's no good answer for overhead, really. You know, if it's too small, you can't scale, you can't manage the other, the rest of the money. Like if five percent's going overhead. You know, you, you pro, and depending on the size, you probably struggle to manage the 90 other 95% really well. If your overhead's too big, you're inefficient and there's just no right answer ever.
And so we just thought, well, let's let the donors decide that answer. So, you know, have the split account. And really the operations side is supported by just a handful of, you know, friends, family, a few corporate sponsors and, and businesses. And it's a pretty select. Group because we want all the other dollars going to the fund. And if you want us to be more efficient between the two funds, just pour as much as you can to the fund.
And all of it goes to the field and it's our job to find the most impactful things for you. And so it's, um, and you know, the reporting every expense, we just thought, well, why not? Let's try it. We haven't found a reason not to, you know, it holds us accountable of like, Hey, knowing everybody's gonna see this and. Um, I encourage more groups to actually heard of one, uh, in Atlanta that's doing that now, so it's cool.
Uh, it's exciting, Paul, but I, I appreciate you sharing that and, and I'd love to hear more about what excites you the most when it comes to, like, advising people, particularly on impact. I mean, you've, you've advised people on donor advice funds before you've, you're, you've been a donor yourself and, but what ex, I'd just love to hear what excites you the most about. This season right now.
Well, I was gonna also mention from what you were saying too, is, is, uh, it gave me more validation that now I, I've spent some time with the. Uh, different, uh, ministries or organizations that are on our portfolio, and they're just thrilled to death about all access. They're like, what can, what else can I provide to you to, to, you know, be another soldier for us?
And how, and they just make a, a real point about, uh, boy, you, you really, you know, locked into a really great, organization and, and that this is, this is something that, um, we feel strongly about. So, you know, on, on both sides of the fence, uh, we, I'm just getting nothing but positive feedback, which is, which is awesome. Um
Well that was, that was another important thing too, Paul. 'cause I was, I was that program director in the field doing the reports and uh, I hear horror stories about, you know, funder fundee relationships where even a group in our portfolio, you know, got a million dollar grant over the last few years from a very popular group and. Yeah, they said they would, they wouldn't do it again just because of how rough it was going through that process and how restricted it was.
So we just have a really weird experience of being on the other side, on both sides really. And we designed it to be, uh, a blessing to the groups in our portfolio. And, you know, if they win, we win. Just like a general contractor, subcontractor, an investor, a company, you know. Um, so that's very much the way we see it. So it's, we designed it that way to where they, it's a great experience for them. That was our hope, at least.
Well, and, and to your other question was, was, you know, if, um, what have I seen as I've come on board and, and you know, one of the things that. Is with, like, with N-C-F-I-I wasn't necess, it's more about processing the, the, the money that you wanna, you wanna give and making sure the most money, is given to, to the organizations as opposed to, uh, the government.
Um, but, you know, here we're able to, get down into the weeds and, and specifically help them pick the ones that they, they want. And, and, and. For them to feel confident that we're, we've already done the, the work of, of analytics to to, to boil it down to these great organizations. Um, uh, I love that. I love being that, that we're actually to help decide who they're gonna be. Um, and then, and then see them personally. Uh. Do what we were, we were hoping that that money would, would do.
Mm-hmm.
and uh, and you know, I also too, I know that part of this whole process is kind of a reporting back. You know, you do the monitoring or the lane we get, we'll get, you know, out there hands, you know, boots on the ground. But you know, they need to come back with, uh, information that maybe is a. for them. I don't know.
Mm-hmm.
but, but that's such a, an important part and they, I think they're more than willing to do it based on, on your whole vision for this. So, um, I, I, it, that's probably the, the greatest thing that I've experienced is from, from the giver to us, to the organizations that we see. We have selected, um, all, all the people around there. It, it, it's, uh, it's kind of what I'd hope all charities and ministries would be like.
Hmm.
or organizations. I'm, I'm learning all the vernacular of what, what not to say or what, what to say. Um, are we officially cutting out the description ministry, or
I don't know. Uh, I don't, I mean to be, if I, if it was in Lane's world, which we're not, uh, uh, Wayne's World Party time, anybody. Okay. Uh, you know what I'm talking about. Okay.
you kidding?
Uh, no, I mean, so I, and the, it sounds cold, but I see organizations as vendors. Including us. You know, we are a means to an end, so I could care less about whatever names on somebody's shirt or any of that, but we care deeply about those in need, you know, spiritual and physical poverty, and so whoever can best help them.
You know, I don't, it's kinda like if you have a leaky toilet at your home, you know, you, unless your brother is a plumber, you probably go out and find who can best fix that for you. Or if you have a much bigger project like. Hey, we are remodeling our home. It's very important, you know who the, the contractor we use for that. It's a big decision to make. Let's talk about the world, you know, coming alongside God and him using us to redeem the world to himself. That's a big deal.
And so people's lives are the line. So who we give to is a, is a big deal. And so, you know, I don't, I don't know what we call 'em. I just, they're programs, you know, in our, in our portfolio because they're specific time bound, um, programs. So they start date, end date, a budget, you know, specific number of activities, outputs. We don't give to organizations as a whole necessarily, because, you know, a big life, for example, is in 170 plus countries.
So what they do in Mexico, it's com it's very different than what they're doing in the Middle East and South Asia. We're, uh, we are focused, so I don't know. We're, we're working on how to talk about what we do, but, you know, impact advising is a little unique in that we are help, we're not financial advisors, although we, um, do have articles and stuff to help people with their finances. Um, we're not a donor-advised fund.
We, I don't know, we don't know the tax side of it, but when it comes to the impact, uh, specifically spiritual and physical poverty, we know that pretty dang well. And so we get the help. People with that. But as you've mentioned, I mean, it's, we, you know, these are people, we're here to help people, our members. So, I mean, it's not irregular. Uh, we talk about, like, I was just off going off the call with a guy who's some was in the hospital last week and I mean, it is not irregular.
That stuff like that comes up. And, uh, so we're here to help people and. You know, getting finances in line, getting their home life, uh, in line, you have to all that, all that before you can really even think about how can we make an impact halfway around the world. So we're here to help with all of it, um, which is a lot of fun.
and one of the things that I brought up to you before I even came on board was just sometimes I felt, at least with my. experience in the past, uh, is that, um, organizations 5 0 1 c threes didn't really, I don't know, I, I always felt they didn't feel the magnitude of, of that the person truly is, is giving,
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
earned dollar. It's, it's, it's, they could do something else with it. And, and I, I feel that part of what we do and what lane, what you have wanted, the, the. To happen is for people to be thanked and people to be, um, to be noticed a little bit. I mean, it's not like, you know, I, I, I know you, you gotta give it freely, but it's nice to know that the, that the organization that is receiving it truly appreciate what, what are doing by selecting, uh, all access to, to, to be one of their.
Giving partners. Um, and, and I've, I've noticed that in the first month,
Hmm.
and over, uh, uh, that, that's important to you. And, and, uh, I love that. That's a, that's another great thing that you just don't see. I used to get mad at my brother 'cause I felt like he, he was a little slow, slow with getting back to like, friends of mines who had donated to it. I'm like, okay, they, you should, they don't even know if you got it. You should,
Hmm.
uh, make sure that. know you ha you've received it and how appreciative you are. And
Yeah.
then he's gotten a lot better. So,
Well, that's a part of the reason we, you know, our first move in building our capacity to scale the fund, get it in front of more people so we can help more people out of extreme poverty, spiritual, and physical. Was, uh, was you, is getting somebody who can help care for our members? Well, and you know. Because we both come from the, the donor side of, of things that's really important. We both know the cost it takes to, to get that dollar, you know, new dollars are free.
They're all, it was all earned in some form or fashion, um, by somebody. And so we, we don't take that lightly and in our, and we, we don't want people in our fund or, or our sponsors to, for them to feel like we aren't grateful, um, because we're super grateful. I really, yeah, I get to go out and see in the field, and I'm trying to do a better job of connecting the dots of the MP impact people are making, but it's huge. I mean, seeing the need and then seeing what can happen, it's awesome.
So, yeah.
j just 'cause I can't remember the specifics of this, an analogy or, or, or, uh, that has happened. Tell, say it again about. You, the, the project that would, that only took $20,000 versus 46,000 times more with someone else.
Yes. That was our very first program, you know, so when we did all this back in 20 19, 20 20, when I was doing all this research on needing a tool like this to help people give, well, so we can accelerate this mission, we didn't know where we, we didn't know maybe there's a reason why he's doing this. So we just tried it. So we didn't market this at all. We just.
You know, really friends and family of mine, we just pulled 20 grand together, ran it through their, our analytics, partnered with, um, we found Transform East Alliance. This is during Covid and so I couldn't get over there. Uh, I had some friends with the IMB stuck in Calcutta. Go and, uh, evaluate them in person for me and say, Hey, yeah, everything's lining up. I don't even think PSH and transform East Alliance knew that. But, uh, we did all this vetting.
We mobilized 20 grand, or I'm sorry, yeah, 20 grand and helped them train a hundred church planting coordinators. These are believers in the local church there who are trained to go and make disciples and plant churches in the unreached communities around them where there are no churches. And in just one year, they had already planted 243 churches among. Uh, nine, seven unreached people groups with 1500 new believers and uh, with 20 grand.
And so, um, well I just, I happened to be in grad school at the time and connected with a lot of sending agencies and so I was just curious. Not that there's anything wrong with, um, well, there is a little bit wrong if, if I was wrong in that I went to Haiti as a missionary because I wanted to be a missionary. Had very little to do with what had nothing to do with. What was in the best interest of the Haitians?
It was all about me being a missionary, and so I do challenge people to rethink why they're going, but we, there is a place for Western missionaries, particularly in theological education, but I just started surveying some sending agencies, Hey, what does it, what does it cost for your organization to. To achieve these same results that these guys did in India. And the on I, I think I asked 18 organizations, I got reliable data back from seven of them.
Um, and on between those seven, which were popular organizations that if I said people would know, um, on average it costs about $88,000 per missionary unit, whether that's an individual or family, which is pretty. Average That makes sense. Uh, it takes about 500 missionary units to plant about a hundred churches, and that's not even in, exclusively in unreached, persecuted context like we're focused on. That's global. And so some places are easier in the other.
So, you know, that means basically one missionary is responsible for 0.2. Ish, uh, churches per year, you do the math and it would cost over $90 million to do what these guys did with 20 grand, and that's about 4,500 times the cost difference. And not that we're about just saving money, but what could we do if we had $90 million? Could we, you know, basically end the gospel poverty in the Middle East, south Asia? Um, I don't know. So all we're saying is that we think it can be done.
Uh, the economics make sense, the resources are there and we just need a tool to help people do that. And that's, that's where we come in. Yep. So, well, I I have one last question 'cause I'm curious, uh, and then we'll wrap it up. But, um, as I've been advising donors the last few years. You know, people giving well is hard. Like you said, how do you, there's 1.8 million non-profits in the us. Um, so who do we give to? How much, you know, the tithe is a, a problem.
I would call it a problem of, like most Christians today think we are as Christians, we are legally supposed to give 10% to local church. That's what we have to do, and that's just not true. Um, we have a lot more freedom than that. So there's a lot of things that, you know, I've just had conversations with, uh, donors about, but I'd love to hear from more from your experience with, um, yourself, you and Kiki or, or people you talked to about giving.
What have been some of the, the problems or maybe problems I don't even know is a problem.
Good question. Um, you know, what I've noticed is that when I go to some of the people that are my contacts that are a little bit older and maybe have been giving for a while, they get a little bit, um, I. Rigid or just,
They've been, they're kind of tapped, like they've been approached a lot, I would imagine. Yeah.
and they kind of have this, you know, group of people or organizations that they use and probably, and, and definitely give a portion to the church, which,
Yeah.
great. Um, so they're not, but they're not like, it's not like a, a fluid, you know. Let's roll 30% off, off, off my giving list and bring in some new people.
Mm-hmm.
so that, that tends to happen. So then when you come along with all access, they're kind of like, Hey, good luck. That's nice. But,
Yeah.
know, maybe not for me, which is again, that's everybody's got their own journey
Mm-hmm.
and, and we shouldn't expect anything. Um, but what is. Cool is when, is when we have some of the meetings I've had with, uh, let's call it thir 30 to 40 years old, or maybe 25 to 35 is, they haven't locked that down yet.
Yeah.
um, they might not have as much 'cause their careers haven't developed, uh, as much as it, as it as it will. Um, they're a lot more open too.
Mm-hmm.
something new. So, um, I just want to be able to spend some time thinking about how, how do I build my relationship and, and help them think through, um, uh, you know, a, a new idea, a new
Hmm. Yeah. Yeah. And, and, and the defensive. Um, older generations. I mean, what we're doing today wasn't really possible 10, 15 years ago. Just the data wasn't there. And so, you know, the, uh, you know, 30 years ago, the best thing you could do is give to your local church. And as far as when it comes to global missions and what we're doing, so. Uh, yeah, and especially here in Dallas, I mean, they're, everybody's so tapped. I mean, we get approached all the time.
I get asked for like quarter million dollars via text the other day, which is crazy. But, uh, yeah, it's, it's a problem. So we, I mean, personally, I kinda use all access as a filter. Like, Hey, I'm a part of this fund. This is where it goes. If I get approached or hear about an organization, I send it through the filter. I know a lot of other guys in the fund use it that way, so, um, yeah. It's like I said, I think 1.8 million nonprofits, so you know every, yeah.
uh, you know, as being here for just a short while, I, I would encourage us to, even though it's more is, is that, uh. A, a certain, you know, just have it in her mind. It doesn't have to be hard and fast, but to have one, two, or three organizations roll off and bring on something new and, and just because, um, it, it would be easy to, to do the same thing and, and just kind keep the same ones. They're, you know, they're good.
Yeah.
Well, you know, after a couple, three years as part of our portfolio, I'm. You know, I, I'm, I'm getting the vi the vibe that from others that they would love to see it, to be vibrant to,
Yeah.
to be, to be new. So,
Yeah,
that's one of the recommendations I, I would, I would give in my early time here.
yeah. It's, uh, that is our, our, our, I mean, like I said, everything, we fund our programs. So it's like if you're developing a. You know, building a housing community at some point that will be complete. So all of our programs, whether they're a year long or five years long, have a a end date. And every year we reanalyze. So right now, uh, we're building a, a master list of all the organizations we wanna look at.
This year, we looked at 1,302 last year, and we will update the portfolio accordingly. You know, if the ones in the portfolio are continuing to be the top that we have a. The amount to fund then they'll be in. Usually things change though. I mean, we've had programs, so we completed our program with Aqua Africa and South Sudan. We completed our program with Farms two in South Sudan for Africa. You know, handed off their water program to another organization to focus on their leadership academy.
So they came outta the portfolio. So things change all the time. Leadership changes. So, uh, the good news, the hope is as the fund grows, we get more members, we can start, keep adding to our portfolio, some fresh blood and even break off into more funds like a water fund, a gospel access fund. So is R room for, for fresh blood? For sure.
Okay, great.
Yep. Yep. But well, cool, Paul, well, I, uh, so glad you're on the team and this has been a lot of fun. You're a huge blessing to our, our members, and I encourage folks, if you don't know Paul, I get to know Paul. Um, he's, he's here to help. I'm here to help. And, uh, but I appreciate you taking the time to, to do this today.
Sure. And, and if anybody just, uh, wants to text me or email me, I'll, uh, I'll set up a time that works for you and, uh, we'll go grab a coffee or, uh, or a lunch. That would be great.
Let's do it. All right, Paul. I'll see you soon.
All right. Thanks guy.
See you.