The All Access Podcast

Lane Kipp: All right.

Well, Zach, thanks for joining us today.

Uh, man, uh, it's been great getting
to know you the last few months and

just learning right now that your dad,
uh, is a pastor and you gotta, you

come from a whole legacy of pastors.

But, uh, man, uh, thanks
for joining the podcast.

Uh, what I love, what I would love for
people to hear is the story of Zach,

Zach Seinfeld, and, um, you know, from.

New, new New England Patriots to Uganda.

Uh, man, I, I've just been really
encouraged by your perspective on the

Christian life giving and being part
of what God's doing in the world,

and, uh, just people need to hear it.

So, uh, thanks for taking the time.

Zach Sudfeld: Man, thank you
so much for having me, lane.

I'm truly honored to be here and meeting
you, connecting with you, um, what

you guys do and, and how you operate.

As I was saying to you, uh, it's
inspiring to me a lot of the things

that I've seen and the issues and
the troubles and problems, man, you

are, you are facing those head on.

I really, really, uh,
am excited about that.

So yeah, man, it's been
a journey for sure.

Um,

Lane Kipp: you're are, you're
originally from California, right?

Zach Sudfeld: Yeah, so I was
born in Santa Cruz, California.

That's why I

Lane Kipp: Nice.

Zach Sudfeld: up top like this, you know,
it, it, it lives well in California.

Not so much in any, any other place,
but, um, but, uh, so from Santa Cruz,

California, uh, yeah, like you said,
my, my, so my grandfather was a pastor.

When I was, you know, up in Santa
Cruz where I was born and my dad

was, uh, a pastor up there as well.

So that was kind of
the, the family legacy.

Uh, that wasn't really my, uh, calling,
but, um, but so born in Santa Cruz,

then, uh, moved to Modesto, California.

That's where I went to kind of.

Junior high elementary school, um, and
then high school played sports there.

Uh, mom as would be when your dad is a
pastor, your mom is a worship pastor.

And so that's how it worked.

Uh, so she wanted musicians,
but she got athletes.

And so, uh, so my siblings, I,
I have four other siblings and

they all, uh, played at least.

Collegiate level and my younger
brother's, uh, in the NFL.

But, um, was, uh, it was very cool.

I'm so grateful 'cause when I was
13 years old for my 13th birthday,

um, my grandparents gave me the
gift of going with them on a trip.

So for my 13th birthday, they gave
me a suitcase and a ticket, and they

said, you can come with us on one
of our upcoming humanitarian trips.

And so I chose to go to Romania,
at 13 years old, um, s witnessing

what I witnessed there.

You know, kids that were my age and
younger that were living in, in the

train stations and in the sewers.

Um, it, it, it shaped me.

It shaped me in a way.

That I'm so grateful for.

Um, it really kind of opened my
eyes and, and expanded just the,

the understanding of the world, um,
and maybe my place in it, right?

The, the blessings that I've had and,
and opportunities because there I, I

was no different than these kids except
I was born into the family that I was

born into, and, and they were born.

In post-communist Romania.

And, uh, so from that time I knew, I
really felt this calling, I would say

almost of like, I will be involved in
this, for, for the rest of my life.

Um, and so for that point.

Obviously high school and sports and was
able to have some, some success there.

And then I went and I played college
ball at the University of Nevada in Reno.

uh, and then from there I
was very fortunate to have an

opportunity to play in the NFL.

Uh, so I started with the Patriots,
um, which was a wild experience.

Before you ask.

No, I did not win a Super Bowl.

Unfortunately, I'm one of like
four Patriots who never won a

Super Bowl, but the majority
of my career was with the Jets.

So, uh, so, you know, lost a lot of games
there, but had a lot of fun for sure.

And, um, you know, it was interesting
because throughout the journey, the, the,

the parallel line of football, uh, and.

Faith and life outside of football.

There was almost this
longing of, uh, is more.

And I think that was shaped for me
when I was 13 by experiencing that.

there's a lot of opulence in the NFL.

It is just, you know, there's
lifestyle and, and people admire you.

And, don't get me wrong, it's very hard.

And I'm not saying I did it even, but
like to not have your identity be.

In football.

And so, um, I was in college, I
was able to go on another trip.

Uh, I mean, I went on several trips while
I was grown up to, uh, after that Romania

trip at fundraise and save up and go.

But in college I was able
to go with my grandfather to

Myanmar, uh, formerly Burma.

And that experience was wild.

Um, being

Lane Kipp: you guys doing there?

Zach Sudfeld: Well, so we were
meeting with the, the, the

parliament, um, prime Minister.

Um, they needed some medical, uh,
de I think it was a neonatal care

unit that they were looking for.

And, uh, my grandpa who started a
international, so he pastored and then

at 55 years old, um, it's really just a
beautiful story because he, he started

SIS International or he, he pastored.

And he always felt a heart for missions.

His churches were always involved
in missions, but, uh, my grandmother

was sick and he was raising the kids
and he was passing the churches and

he always felt like, uh, God wanted
him to get involved in missions.

And so they were, but he, he kind
of, he had this, um, uh, someone

once told him like, I just see
that you're gonna travel the world,

he's 55 years old and he hadn't.

Yeah, he traveled a little bit
on a, a trip here or there, and

at 55 he just felt this stirring.

And so he s he, uh, resigned from
being the senior pastor and he started

assist international and he didn't know
what he was doing to save anything.

And, uh, through the
journey, mother Teresa.

Her people with, um, in Calcutta
reached out and said, Hey, we

need some medical equipment, do
you know anyone who could do it?

He said, I, I'll do it.

And he didn't know what they
needed or how to do it or what,

what, and yet he just said, yes.

There's something to just
saying yes, and just.

Going and you figure it out.

Um, and from that, he's a
million miler on United.

He's 85 now.

Um,

Lane Kipp: Wow.

Zach Sudfeld: his health has declined, uh,
quite a bit, but over the next 30 years,

he traveled the world 10 times over him
and my grandmother together and they have

started, uh, orphanages and homes and
come alongside of people and projects.

And so for me to witness that as a
kid, my grandpa was Indiana Jones.

Man, he was traveling the world
going, doing all these crazy things

and I said, that's what I want to do.

So, um, bringing it back as I played in
football, one of the things, particularly

once I got to the NFL, lifestyle was
something I wasn't equipped to handle.

It was, you know, the opulence of it and,
and the access and all of the things.

And I, I just felt this sense
like, I need some grounding here.

I need to get grounded.

So I called up my brother, my twin
brother, who was working for the

humanitarian organization, uh,
assist International at the time.

And I said, Hey man, I
really want to go to Africa.

And he was like, well, let's go.

So my rookie year ends and me and my
twin brother get on a flight and we go to

Africa to, um, we were doing agricultural
water pumps that a plumber from, uh, the

Bay Area had developed These, these pumps.

That basically farmers could, uh, cycle
their bicycles and pump water at extended

distances to, to water their crops.

Um, and really ingenious
idea, really cool stuff.

Uh, it's now called Project 41 and
it's a really cool organization.

Um, so I went with and I went
out and I, I experienced that

and the, I just felt fully alive.

Fully alive in that, in that experience.

And I was like, man, I
will forever come here.

And that was Uganda and, and uh,
and Uganda had a special place

in my heart from that point on.

And so from there started doing
sports camps out there and built

sports courts and we were able to
do houses and different things.

And so I kind of had gone
from a, uh, experiencing it.

Then I got involved as a
donor while I was playing.

I, I, it was, it was an, it was a
nice place to be, but an interesting

place of like, okay, what do you need?

Alright, let's do it.

And man, I learned a lot because
I think I built the same sport

court three times, right?

Because it, you do it

Lane Kipp: Hmm.

Zach Sudfeld: done up to code and then
you do it again and you're like, oh man.

And so then, um.

I'm kind of like, it's a
Forrest Gump existence.

Honestly, like I, I was able
to get my, my, uh, MBA in, in

while, while I was playing.

I had an injury, so I went and got
my degree and so I was like, how can

I put all of these things together,
the football and the business side

of things and like what I want to
do, you know, in the world, right?

To like actually make an impact because.

Selfishly, I recognize that I get so much
more out of going, that's my vacation,

that's my gift to myself almost, right?

Because the joy that it brings me,
and this is not even like in like a

false humility, I'm just being straight
up with you, like the, the actual

adventure of going and getting to
experience it is so valuable to me.

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Zach Sudfeld: is amazing.

And that's what I encourage people.

I say, you know, if you are gonna want to
go on these trips if, if you're trying to

make an impact, there are ways to do it.

You work with someone who's already
there, local, understands the culture.

I mean, man, we are building houses
with, you know, up to American

standards and then you're like,
wait, we don't need these in Africa.

We cook outside.

You know, and so like, trial and error,
but, but I always would come back to this

recognition that I am better for going.

The value that I get in my life, I,
I am fully convinced that like the,

the purpose of life, the way to combat
all these things is service of others.

Um.

Again, not in some false humility
way, but genuinely go and see it and

experience it and taste it and see the
joy that these kids get from you, giving

them a pair of knockoff crocs and all
the different things that you can do.

Um, and so it started in that way
and then as it transitioned it was

like, how can we do this in a way
that's actually actually helping?

It's not just a self-serving.

Um.

It's so easy to go out and be like,
oh, I, I gave this person a dollar

and now I feel good about myself.

Awesome.

That doesn't help anybody, right?

That dollar gets spent and then you create
dependency, and there are so many case

studies like Haiti after the earthquake
where we're just messing everything up.

So then it was like an evolution from
that into how can we develop things and

what does it look like create impact.

just, I feel good about this, but from
the, from the inside out, we're making

a lasting impact and leaving a legacy.

And, and through that I've fully come
to the recognition that it is, it's

partnering with indigenous groups,
people who are already there and doing

it and equipping them like, we're the
boosters, they're the rocket ship in

the payload, and we are the boosters.

How can we support you?

And a lot of it, you have to do
a lot of vetting and you have to,

you know, a lot of understanding.

And I mean, dude, I've gone
out there with QuickBooks.

I don't hardly know how to use
QuickBooks, but it's like, let's

get accounting set up, right?

And, um, but with everything, it's,
it's kind of coming, you know,

the maturity of this is how can we
actually make impact and actually

change that's lasting.

A legacy that changes countries
from the inside out and culture from

the inside out and through that.

one thing that we've discussed and where
it's so exciting to chat with you is

how do you put metrics on lives changed?

How do you put metrics on impact in
the business world, in, in venture,

in whatever it is that we do?

Metrics are, there's
everything right there.

You can grade it out.

You can see, alright, this is the result.

There's cause and effect
and you can reassess when it

comes to giving philanthropy.

It's very difficult and that's why it's
so exciting what you guys are doing

with let's create metrics around it.

Let's Moneyball this thing, man.

Lane Kipp: Yeah, yeah, we're, we're
trying and, um, but it, you're right.

I mean, it takes, I would've never been
here had I not gone on a mission trip as

a kid or, or had somebody influence me.

You know?

I was.

Uh, 14, I think when I read Radical by
David Plaid and kinda shook my world.

And, um, yeah, so I, you're right,
man, people, you gotta go see it.

You gotta go taste it, smell
it, feel it, experience it.

And um, yeah, it's for the
majority of people who can't,

how do we help them do that?

Because, uh, you're right.

I think once they do, it's,
they'll be on fire for it and.

Zach Sudfeld: it's so true.

I think that when people go and actually
have that experiential knowledge of.

The sights and the smells and the sounds
and the lack of sleep and the jet lag.

It's, it's everything.

It's not just the good,
it's the bad as well.

But when you have that, what I've
found when I've, I've taken friends

or teammates or, or people, they're
partners for life in this work and

that's what's so cool about it.

And so I kinda almost look
at it as two separate things.

Uh, you're helping the
people that are going.

It's such a life altering
perspective, shifting experience.

You never leave the same as
the person that you were.

But then also on top of it, it's
win-win because you're making such an

impact and you're doing so much good.

And then you don't have to live there.

You don't have to move
there, I don't think.

think so many people are
not called to go there.

Right?

Serve in your community and whatever,
but always be a part of this and

that's what's been so cool is.

To be able to always have
that, to have conversations.

And, and anytime I've taken people,
it's changed them and their world,

not, maybe they never go again,
but it shifts a perspective.

It gives you, it really is kind of an
antidote for some of the, uh, you know,

issues that we face in our modern culture.

Right?

People that are scrolling on TikTok and
social media and stuff, man, when you

go out there, your phone's not working.

And you're just experiencing life, man.

And it is, it is.

You're fully alive.

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Zach Sudfeld: that I, I really encourage
people to go and to experience.

Lane Kipp: Yeah, man, I, I agree.

That's, I feel the most
alive when I'm, I'm there.

It feels like, man, this is, this is.

The Christian life is being a part of what
God's doing around the world and redeeming

ourselves and others back to himself.

And, um, I love it, man.

And, and, well I just love, 'cause
you could have totally taken a,

a completely different path and

Zach Sudfeld: Yeah.

Lane Kipp: here, here you are.

And, uh, it's just encouraging
I think to us and a lot of

people that in our funds have.

We're Christian professionals, investors,
entrepreneurs who just want to be a part

of what he's doing in the best way we can.

And that's, you touched on
it, like how do we do that?

What, what is the best way we can
look like knowing the struggles

with metrics and all that?

Zach Sudfeld: Exactly.

It's so beautiful how, how you're
setting it up and how you're operating

because the going is fantastic for
the individual, for the person.

The efficiency is not a word that's
really used in philanthropy and the

humanitarian world and like, I don't
want to get in trouble, but man.

Nothing grinds my gears.

Like being out in, you know, Kampala
and seeing like certain very large

organizations, you know, people
driving around in Land Cruisers and

things like this, and I, I, I'm just
kinda like, man, we're missing it.

And, and one of the things with that,
that I'm so grateful for, for you and, and

your group is I've really been bothered by
seeing that some of the best fundraisers.

Are actually not doing a lot of work.

Lane Kipp: Right.

Zach Sudfeld: some of the groups that
are doing the most work, the boots on

the ground, actually making a difference.

They're terrible fundraisers.

They're just terrible, terrible
storytellers, terrible fundraisers,

or they're not equipped for it.

They don't have the resources for
it or they're resources go back

into the work that they're doing.

And so one of the things that.

Has inspired me and kind of like
coming alongside with Assist

International and other groups as
well, is how can we identify the

groups that are actually doing the
work and then be their mouthpiece.

Lane Kipp: Yep.

Zach Sudfeld: I can't move to Uganda, man.

I got kids, you know, and,
and, and, and all this stuff.

But how can I bring, um, one of the,
the identity things that I've worked

through post football is, is I feel this.

Part of my identity is
networking resources with impact.

And I've been so fortunate to have
this Forrest Gump life where I've met

some incredible people and, and man
from every space, from media and, and

sports and entertainment to, um, you
know, business and, and in the venture

capital world and, and things like that.

How can I bring all of this and
plug it into these groups that.

I would rather work with a group that has
a terrible social media presence, but is

actually out there doing incredible work.

And so, um, that's where I want to,
that's where I feel my place is now, is

connecting the resources and the world
that the Lord has put me in to the people

that maybe don't have the same mouthpiece
or didn't have the same platform.

That I have had.

Um, and that's what's so cool about how
you guys operate, is let's, let's remove

all of the, all of the show from it and
let's actually see who's doing the work.

And then I think what inspires people.

'cause I know for me as a donor, you
know, you kind of give and, and you just,

you kind of punt it off a cliff, so to

Lane Kipp: Yeah,

Zach Sudfeld: You're like,
well, all right, I hope it

Lane Kipp: that's a good analogy.

Yeah.

Zach Sudfeld: Right.

Like, it's just like I, all right.

I feel good about it.

Cool.

Um, and, and again,
that's where I'm grateful.

Like with, with Assist International,
obviously I get to be very involved

in how they operate with those
things, but like with you or with

friends that I have that are giving.

A question that a lot of this younger
generation of people who want to give

have is like, well, how do I know that
it's going where I'm sending it, that

it's doing what I'm sending it to do?

And I think that there has to
be, um, a level of openness,

a level of, uh, transparency.

and even in that transparency I've
had, again with the sports courts,

hey, we kind of messed it up.

We, we built it, we used the
contractor that was the guy's

cousin and we didn't know, and you
know, now we gotta redo it, right?

And it's like, hey,
that's fine, we'll learn.

But with that.

getting better every time, right?

You never come back as the same person.

You never do the same project.

Everything is improving just like
you would in the capital markets

and business and in everything.

We can take that and put it
into our philanthropic efforts

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, you're right.

Zach Sudfeld: are lined up for that.

And the only group that I know
that's doing it, and that's

what's so inspiring about it.

Lane Kipp: Well, thanks, Zach.

I mean, that's, that's why we started it.

And you know, I'm a, I came
from building yachts and so.

You know, part of it when I was
researching this in grad school was, is

there anybody else out there doing that?

Uh, as a, as a donor who was looking
to give towards something like this, it

was like, man, you know, you're right.

I mean, the most effective organizations
are usually not the most attractive

because they're spending all
their time on what actually works.

And sometimes it's a, it's a
beautiful thing when, when both

work, and that's what I consult a
lot of organizations to do, but.

It's our job to go out and
find who's doing the best work.

And that is, that's hard.

Uh, I mean it's, um, it's a challenge,
but it's the same thing if you're, you

have a financial advisor, you would
want him to do the same thing, not just

like scrolling on Instagram and say, oh,
here's a cool investment, but, but for

your sake, making that ROI, regardless
of their social channels or logo.

So, uh, and it's, it's.

Zach Sudfeld: hardest part in all of this.

E

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Zach Sudfeld: can, you know, wax on
a story and tell you about all the

different things, but when you actually
look under the hood, um, it's, it's just

very easy to kind of get, sidetracked,
but, but, and not even misled.

I'm not saying it's an intentional thing.

But to really make sure that your
your dollars are going to the places

where the impact is gonna be greatest
and, and you know that it's going

to, you know, 'cause the, I it's
the parable of the talents, right?

Let's, let's expand what we're doing.

Um, and, and so that's
where I'm just, yeah.

I'm fired up for what you guys are doing.

I, again, you did the research, but I
didn't know of any groups that were.

You know, actually looking at the
metrics and actually having the, you

know, with a fund, being able to take
it and, and place it in the places

needed most, and that's very, very cool.

Lane Kipp: Well, I appreciate it, man.

It's, um, it's a challenge though, because
I mean, to be even more transparent,

you know, when we ask organizations,
Hey, can you provide the data on

your, you know, outputs and outcomes?

Can you provide financials?

Can you provide quarterly reports and
things like this biannual, you know,

meetings with their program director
come and come see it in person.

We get a lot of organizations who go,
nah, uh, because it's easier to put a,

you know, a picture or a video of a, a
kid starving to death and get somebody

to give that way than it is like, Hey,
here's this organization had a percentile

increase in nutrition in this area.

So it's, um.

It's a battle of.

If.

Zach Sudfeld: I, I can't imagine
the battle that you're facing

with that too, because it is true.

Uh, been interesting.

Again, I'm not gonna.

There's, this is just, I will
never fault anyone for trying.

I love the effort.

I love it.

My thing is maybe more like,
let's be honest with ourselves

and let's really look at it rather
than, just throw it out there.

So I'm not trying to say this, uh,
about anyone in particular, but it

really is easier to throw up a photo
and sa and tell a, a, a sad story.

And, and then request funds, donations,
you know, all the things that, that works.

But it's not a long-term solution
because eventually you people will look

into that and it is hard to find groups
that are willing to open their books.

hard to work in other cultures where.

I give you, you know, X amount for
this project, as you're driving down

the road, something else pops up and
you, you know, you're like, well, I

had to take it from this to go to that.

And I'm like, oh, but like
this was given for that.

And so then I'm the middleman
because I connected someone to this.

And you're like, ah, we gotta,
so there's, so, it's so involved

in it's painstaking work, right?

The, the outside looking in if, if people.

Haven't really taken the deep dive
in, in the, I guess, industry.

Um, you don't see all the nuance there.

But what is important, I think,
with all of it, is staying the

course, learning from your mistakes.

It's a commitment.

It's a commitment.

It not even to like a particular
group or organization, but to

a country, to a culture, and
ultimately to people, to humanity.

I, I think that God's called us to help.

Others and, and to serve others.

And it's such an amazing opportunity.

Um, but it takes commitment and
failure and working on it and

coming back to the same places.

And, and really, um, I mean, I know
we assist, assist International

has been in Africa for 30 years, I
think 20, 20 something years, and.

Probably made every mistake
you could make, right?

Uh, not out of any malicious intent,
but you know, taking churches out

with plumbers and electricians
to build a house this way, right?

And then all of a sudden you're
like, wait, we're taking jobs

away from the local people.

Okay, so now let's take the group out.

They get to experience it, but
let's hire the local people.

So we're stimulating the economy
and, and you're learning as you

go, but it is a commitment, right?

You don't just walk away because.

The founder needed a new
tire and took money from, you

know, one fund into another.

Like, no, no, it's corrective
and it's probably honestly how

the father is with us, right?

Like that's the thing.

And this is in no way to say
that I have the answers or we

have the answers and they don't.

It's a collaboration, but it is a
commitment and that's what's been cool.

And that's where I really feel, um,
I love traveling all over the world,

but my heart is really in Uganda.

Some of the groups that
we're working with is.

You know, I get to go out there
in July and I'm very excited.

We're kind of doing a sustainable
farm project to try and

just help, uh, create jobs.

Um, and, and food for the, for
the South Sudanese refugees,

it's right on the border there.

Um, and doing that whole thing is so
Yeah, it's like raising my kids because

it's like, man, you are just, every once
in a while you're running into a wall

and you gotta keep going and keep going.

But that's where the fruit comes, you
know, is, is in the long-term commitment.

It's not just one you know, one and done.

It's like in a, in a lifetime commitment
to the things that you're doing.

And so that's what's exciting about it,
is that you have these opportunities

to find where, where you are led.

Wherever captures your heart and man, you
can just dive in, in, in whatever that

looks like with that group or culture
or tribe and, and it's a special thing.

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Yeah.

Man, we need more Zacks in the world.

But, um, well, I want to, I'd love
to hear, uh, more of what you're

involved in, what you're doing.

Uh, before we do that real quick, we,
you know, we advise, what I've learned

is helping people give, well, in the
most unreached, impoverished places, I

have to start with their own, you know,
giving philosophy and giving strategy.

And before we do that,
I end up having to help.

People, even those in the
wealth management space on

their own financial strategy.

So, uh, I'd love to if, if share as
much or as little as you want, but

love to hear your own, like how you
put giving into your own financial

strategy and then your own giving
strategy and, and how you guys do that.

Zach Sudfeld: absolutely.

And I'm an open book.

I'm a, I'm a, I'm an open book.

Um, so I obviously playing football, it's
not like a typical, you know, Hey man,

I got outta college and I got a job and
then worked my way up sort of a thing.

I.

Found myself in a situation where, uh, I
all of a sudden was getting paid to play

a game that I had always paid to play.

And, uh, and so, uh, I was very fortunate
to kind of sign, uh, sign up with,

uh, uh, great financial advisor as I
was kind of strategizing long term.

And, um, I'm a simple man.

I still drive a 2004 Chevy
Tahoe because it fits so well.

Um, and, uh, and I'll probably drive
it until literally the wheels fall off.

I get made fun of a lot, but
it's a, it's a sweet rig, man.

Got a little patina on it these
days, but, uh, but it's a sweet rig.

Um, uh, and so I knew for me that
obviously with, with my experience and

my, all of my experiences over life, I
knew that I wanted to be able to give.

Um, that was a big thing.

One thing that I've learned
football is, you know, uh,

sustainable giving, right?

Oftentimes, uh, let's say someone's
gonna give to a project, well

then that kind of turns into.

Well next year, hey, we built the
school, but now we need another 50 K for

Lane Kipp: right.

Zach Sudfeld: Otherwise,
they're not gonna be able to go.

Lane Kipp: Yep.

Zach Sudfeld: so then it's, it's
almost like people have gotten

on the hook for this, right?

Like, oh man, well now I feel bad
because I'm not trying to take these

kids outta school that I built.

But I also.

Don't like that.

I just kind of got manipulated
into giving $50,000 a year.

Right?

Lane Kipp: Yep.

Zach Sudfeld: part of the deal.

So, um, for me that I experienced
some of that as we were going through,

and now I'm really interested in
and trying to cultivate funds,

endowments, um, sustainable in the
giving, sustainable in the, uh, work.

in the groups that we work with, right?

It's, I think aid, aid is about
as terrible of a concept as

we can have with these things.

And it's one of those things that
is so close and it looks great

on paper, but it is terrible.

because it creates dependency.

And I am, of course like.

I want to help everyone, but
when helping hurts, right?

That, that happens.

And I have to be aware enough and, and,
and maybe, um, you know, vulnerable in

my own, with my ego and all my things
to say, wow, actually I'm not, I, I

thought I was doing good, but I didn't.

And then you come back
and, and you fix that.

And so when it comes to the giving
side, I really think that in every.

I think the, the call forward for
us in this world and in every world

is sustainable, giving through
funds and through endowments.

And, um, I'm a part of this
incredible, uh, venture fund that,

um, uh, that it's called, it's called
the Sandbox Fund, but basically.

It's to play in the sandbox.

And the idea behind it though is
let's create sustainability here

so that we can give and we can
protect, um, these founders and these

groups and, and different people.

Um, so the, the return on the investment
isn't based on what they're doing.

much as we're being good
stewards, first and foremost.

And with that, we're creating
a guard around these groups.

And the same is true, uh, from the capital
markets into the philanthropic world of

create some sustainability around it.

Let's make sure that everything
that we're doing, I don't want

to go to the same person and ask
for the same amount every year.

I want to go, and I don't want
someone to come to me for that.

I want someone to come to me and
say, Hey, this is the vision.

it's like a startup.

It's like, this is the vision.

This is what we're gonna build.

This is how long we think it's gonna take.

This is what it looks
like on the other side.

And I'm all in.

I'm all in.

And even if we fail, man, we are,
we are, we are striving for that.

What I don't want to do is give, you know,
20 bucks and be like, all right, cool.

Here you go.

Now I feel good about myself, but
I'm just creating this dependency

and this, this kind of poverty.

I'm, I'm reinforcing
these cycles of poverty.

Um, and that's where it's so important
to find the groups understand

that and are open and willing to.

To go about that, to open their books, to
ask for help, to learn new things rather

than, no, we're just gonna take our,
you know, take what we can get and, and

tell people, you know, what we're doing.

so when it comes to giving, I would say
sustainability and, and also with that

sustainability, kind of what you guys
are doing with a fund, with endowments,

grouping together, you know, I mean.

If, if one stick of dynamite can,
can, you know, make a dent, you put

two together, you put three together.

And it's exponential in the
impact that it can have.

And that's what I love about funds,
that's what I love about, uh, even in,

in endowments and, and things like that,
where if we pool our resources, we're

able to go to one and, and actually
make a difference, and then we can go to

another and actually make a difference.

But rather than being
scattered like a shotgun.

be really, let's cultivate together
a vision and a plan, and let's pray

about it and let's move forward in this
and let's follow the Lord's leading,

but let's do it in a really wise way.

And that's, I think, my vision
for, um, giving, moving forward.

Lane Kipp: Dude, uh, preach, man.

I mean, that's all I can say.

Amen.

Zach Sudfeld: me.

I told you I'm, I'm a, you know,
generations of pastors before me.

I'll go long.

I'm long-winded out here.

Lane Kipp: No, but it's great.

I mean, that's, I love it.

I love the passion that
you have towards it.

We need more of us need that passion
and, and honestly, that purpose.

In life.

Um, thank you brother for the vision you
have, the passion you have and, and not,

and what I love, you know, I meet a lot
of really passionate people, but, um,

com combining the head and the heart and,
and the most loving thing we can do is,

is think deeply about how can we be most
helpful, and that's what you're doing.

And so, uh, we need more people
to hear, hear what you're saying.

Zach Sudfeld: that really means a lot.

Lane.

I mean, you know, again,
it's all trial and error.

Um, and I am so, so blessed.

It's, it's ridiculous how blessed
I've been with my experiences with my.

Upbringing and, and, and
family and all of that stuff.

But to be a part of this, I'm
humbled, truly and honored.

And uh, so what I'm excited for is I
think that the stuff that we're talking

about resonates with so many people.

there is a generation of people, and
particularly people in the capital

markets in, in the marketplace that see.

This work?

The, the, the, the, the
humanitarian work, right?

The impact driven work, and it
inspires them and then they, they catch

this vision of doing it a new way.

Right?

It's the new wine skin of.

What we are doing.

And I think that there's a
generation that's excited about this.

And that's what's so cool for me
is when I have these conversations

with friends or people in, in, in
business and entrepreneurs and, and

whatever, they're like, oh yeah,
I've been thinking that same thing.

Let's do it.

And so I think that there is, it's
this, in this season of, of life,

in this time, in this generation,
we're, we're coming together.

People like you, right?

I mean, I would say you are on the front.

Front lines of this, right?

And saying, yeah, let's
do it a different way.

Let's do it and let's make it, and I
think that this is how the world changes.

Like if you want to change the
world, man, this is what it looks

like to do it one step at a time.

And you do it together and you do it in
community and you do it with transparency

and vulnerability and uh, and so all of
these things are kind of circling, right?

There's this massive, um, I think.

Just stirring that's happening that I
see and I'm so excited to be a part of

or adjacent to, or whatever it might be.

And, and so that's what, man, that's
what gets me, gets me up every

morning and just stoked on life, man,

Lane Kipp: Yeah, man, I, I see it
every day by millennial and Gen Z

specifically of have stepping into
this, I mean, generously like crazy.

Um, yeah, super generously too.

Zach Sudfeld: with that wholeheartedly.

And I would even say, man, I have been so
overwhelmed by I, the millennial and Gen

Z, don't have the most resources, but the
heart to give and for impact is amazing.

And these are people
that, that are giving.

Before they're even taking care
of themselves a lot of times.

And man, that, that inspires me so much.

And I think through that, that
leads change in all generations.

I think other generations see
that and come, come in and

say, well, this looks great.

I want to be a part of that.

I wanna be a part of your fun lane.

Like, because this, I want.

My money and my efforts and all
of these things to go to impact.

And so I think that
this is how it happens.

It's organic and it's grassroots.

And you know what, it starts
slow, but it scales big.

And, and ultimately, um, you know,
we leave it in the hands of a loving

father who, and we surrender to him
and we're like, Lord man, you take it.

You run with it, and we're just
here and we're here for it.

Lane Kipp: Yeah, man.

I love it.

Well, we are here for it, Zach, man.

Uh, thanks for this conversation.

Thanks for all of our conversations.

I'm looking forward to many more to come
and, um, yeah, love what you're doing.

If I can help any way, lemme know.

Zach Sudfeld: Oh man.

It's been so great, uh, getting to
know you Lane, and I'm so grateful

to come on the, on the podcast, man.

Thank you for having me,

Lane Kipp: Yeah, let's get
to Uganda together soon too.

Zach Sudfeld: Let's go, man.

We just gotta line up our trips, man.

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Yeah.

Uh, yeah, I've got, I got
food poisoning pretty bad.

The last trip I was there,

Zach Sudfeld: dude.

Oh man.

Yeah, I, I have been there.

Lane Kipp: that's a
part of the tasting it.

Um,

Zach Sudfeld: back,

Lane Kipp: oh yeah,

Zach Sudfeld: you got it,
dude, I've been there,

Lane Kipp: happened to you.

Zach Sudfeld: bro.

And your boy's big and the bathroom's on
a plane are small and I don't know, man.

Not for a podcast probably, but dude.

Oh, oh man.

Lane Kipp: Oh, that's the,
yeah, that is the worst.

Luckily, mine was the day before, um,
but came back nine pounds lighter.

Uh, so

Zach Sudfeld: dude, that's tough.

You're still just like
coming back from that man,

Lane Kipp: yeah.

Yeah.

I haven't gained it all back
yet, but I'm, I'm working on it.

We work hard on that, so I,

Zach Sudfeld: the weight room.

I'll send you some creatine or
something, you know, we'll go

Lane Kipp: there you go.

Yeah.

Well, Zach, thanks for your time, man.

Thanks for your friendship.

Uh, let's keep doing this.

Zach Sudfeld: Absolutely.

Thanks for having me, lane.

Lane Kipp: All right, man.

Talk to you soon.