All Access Strategy Series: 5. Grant 100%

We've been working through a six-part series unpacking the core strategies we use at All Access to achieve our aim of eradicating global physical and spiritual poverty. In this post we will be looking at strategy number five: Granting 100% of member donations to the field.

Why 100% Matters

Five years ago, as we shaped the mission and structure of All Access, a fundamental question guided our decisions: How can we exemplify financial efficiency, accountability, and transparency within the charity sector? We concluded that ensuring 100% of donations directly support field programs would not only meet these goals but also set us apart in the industry.

When you contribute to the All Access Fund as a member, every cent is directed toward the vetted programs in our portfolio. Our commitment to allocating every donated dollar to the field stands as a testament to optimizing impact. We aim for each contribution to translate into tangible change—whether it’s through planting churches, providing clean water, making disciples, or supporting locals in various ways.

Transparency is a core value at All Access. Each financial activity, down to the last cent, is open for scrutiny. You can see where every dollar goes, which builds trust and ensures that your giving is not just effective but also trustworthy.

The Mechanism Behind 100%

One might wonder how we manage to direct 100% of donations to the field while still maintaining our operations. The answer lies in our two-account model. When you visit our website and decide to give, your contribution enters a dedicated account earmarked solely for our programs. This ensures that every cent is poised for direct impact.

Let’s delve into how the allocation works. Quarterly, we review the contributions and divide the total among the partners in our portfolio. We respect your choices—so if you’ve designated your funds for a specific program, that's exactly where it goes. But what about the necessity of growth and expanding our reach? Vetting and onboarding new partners isn’t free—it currently costs about $50,000 per partner. To cover such costs without touching donations meant for field programs, we prudently set aside a small fraction from each quarterly sum to facilitate future partnerships.

Here’s an example: Suppose this quarter we receive $1 million. After honoring specific designations, we calculate the remainder and divide it evenly among current portfolio partners, with an additional allocation for upcoming partnerships. This disciplined approach ensures there’s a continuous impact today and potential for greater reach tomorrow.

So, what about our operational costs—salaries, travel expenses, marketing? This is where our second account comes in, supported by a handful of strategic partners. These partners believe in our vision and cover our operational expenses, allowing us to maintain this model of 100% efficacy for the All Access Fund. By entirely separating operational funding from program funding, we maintain absolute transparency and allow every dollar from our members to go directly to the field.

Addressing Overhead Concerns

A significant hurdle in philanthropic spaces revolves around overhead costs. Donors often worry about how much of their money goes into administrative expenses rather than direct impact. Can the organization be trusted with their hard-earned money? With our dual-account model, we eliminate this concern—operational and program funds are entirely separate. This means that donors can rest easy knowing 100% of their contribution goes where it’s needed most.

Our operational expenses cover everything necessary for running All Access, including payroll and other administrative costs. These expenses are funded exclusively through contributions from strategic partners who believe in our mission and understand the importance of operational efficiency. This allows us to focus all member contributions entirely on impact without any diversions.

Evaluating an organization goes beyond overhead percentages. It's essential to consider the total cost per impact. Even organizations with higher overheads can deliver significant impact due to the efficiency and scalability of their programs. For us, separating these metrics simplifies transparency, showing you exactly how your contributions translate into real-world change.

Our Financial Commitment

Our two-account model provides clarity and trust. It’s an investment strategy for impactful giving. Our operational partners, who fund our expenses, do so with the knowledge that their contributions support the broader mission.

Furthermore, our operational account is a testament to our commitment to impact and efficiency. It’s funded by partners who believe in the broader vision and want to encourage as many people as possible to use the All Access Fund. By investing in our operations, these strategic partners help us maintain the promise of 100% field donation without compromising on operational integrity or efficiency.

This model influences the entire charity industry, setting a benchmark for financial efficiency and impact. More organizations adopting a similar approach would lead to improved transparency and trust across the sector.

The Power of Transparency

Transparency is at the heart of what we do. By providing complete visibility into our financial activities, we ensure our members and partners understand where every dollar goes. This commitment holds us accountable and ensures we operate with the utmost integrity.

For example, every expense report is available online for our members and partners to view. This means if we spend money on a specific project, travel for meetings, or any other expenditure, it’s all documented and accessible. This level of transparency is about building and maintaining trust with those who invest in our mission. There’s no guesswork about how contributions are spent, and every member can see the direct results of their giving.

Scaling Our Impact

Our strategy doesn’t stop at ensuring current contributions are utilized effectively—we’re constantly looking to expand our impact. This involves meticulous vetting and adding new partners to our portfolio, ensuring we remain flexible and responsive to emerging needs. This again is funded without touching members’ contributions, making every dollar work harder and go further in the field.

A recent board decision to invest in growing our team speaks volumes about our commitment to scale. This investment, backed by our operational partners, is aimed at driving greater funds into our programs. By enhancing our capacity, we ensure more resources are available for direct impact—aligning with our core principle of 100% donations going to the field.

The result is an increasing number of high-impact projects supported by your contributions. We’re continually expanding, vetting more partners, and ensuring that every new addition to our portfolio meets our high standards for impact and efficiency.

Conclusion

Granting 100% of donations to our programs is a commitment to maximizing your impact and maintaining your trust. Our dual-account model ensures operational costs are covered independently, allowing every dollar you contribute to make a direct difference in the field.

By separating operational expenses from program funds, we offer transparency that’s unmatched in the industry. You see exactly where your money goes and witness the real-world impact of your contribution.