The All Access Podcast

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: Hmm.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Well, tell us, so you, I know you
went to, you went to Oral Roberts,

and then

Paul Norell: the quick, the

Lane Kipp: you gotta tell
us about Kiki as well.

Paul Norell: yes, my wife,
um, so I, uh, fortunately was

raised in a great Christian

Lane Kipp: Hmm.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Hmm.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Where's, where's
Kiki from originally?

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Okay.

Got it.

Paul Norell: and she went to,
she went to Oklahoma State.

So,

Lane Kipp: Got it.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Nice.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: said, oh, okay.

'cause he is, you know,
I'm born and bred there.

I

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Any of those a and m.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: Oh, cool.

Paul Norell: uh, at Baylor University.

She just came back from a
meeting and said, dad, dad,

this is where I want to go.

Lane Kipp: Wow.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Wow.

Paul Norell: that was,
uh, pretty unheard of.

And so we ended up selling the company to
a media holding company called Omnicom.

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: I hope so too, Paul.

Paul Norell: one question?

10 minute answer.

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: yeah, I mean,

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: I think everybody
deep down asked that.

Yeah.

Paul Norell: I'm, I'm the

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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?

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: Yep.

Paul Norell: uh, and that that should
be, you might not care, but it's there.

We care, you

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Paul Norell: it to be all,
all out, all transparent.

So, it's been refreshing to be
able to, to take that position.

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Hmm.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: you kidding?

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Hmm.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Hmm.

Paul Norell: uh, make sure that.

know you ha you've received it
and how appreciative you are.

And

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: then he's
gotten a lot better.

So,

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: They've been, they're
kind of tapped, like they've been

approached a lot, I would imagine.

Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: know, maybe not
for me, which is again, that's

everybody's got their own journey

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Mm-hmm.

Paul Norell: 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

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: 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,

Lane Kipp: Yeah.

Paul Norell: to be, to be new.

So,

Lane Kipp: Yeah,

Paul Norell: that's one of the
recommendations I, I would, I

would give in my early time here.

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: Okay, great.

Lane Kipp: 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.

Paul Norell: 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.

Lane Kipp: Let's do it.

All right, Paul.

I'll see you soon.

Paul Norell: All right.

Thanks guy.

Lane Kipp: See you.