From the NFL to Uganda: Zach Sudfeld’s Mission to Tackle Poverty

A legacy shaped by service and global perspective

Zach Sudfeld’s story begins firmly grounded in a family tradition committed to serving others. Raised in California by a father and grandfather who led churches and a mother dedicated to worship ministry, Zach experienced service as a daily pattern, not an abstract concept. His life changed at thirteen, when his grandparents gave him a suitcase and a plane ticket for his birthday—a ticket to witness, firsthand, what many face elsewhere in the world.

In romania, Zach saw children his own age living in train stations and sewers. “It shaped me,” he recalls. “I’m so grateful because…at 13 years old, witnessing what I witnessed there…it really kind of opened my eyes and expanded just the understanding of the world and maybe my place in it, right?” He recognized the privilege of his own upbringing and felt a lasting responsibility: “From that time, I knew, I really felt this calling, I would say almost, of like, I will be involved in this for the rest of my life.”

Even as his journey took him through sports—first at the university of nevada, then to the NFL with the patriots and jets—Zach describes a longing for something deeper. The world of professional football, defined by “opulence” and approval, always left space for something more substantial. Trips with his grandfather, notably to Myanmar working on medical equipment distribution, further deepened his awareness. This legacy of “just saying yes and just going,” as modeled by his grandfather founding assist international at 55, became a primary template for Zach’s life—one marked by willingness, not mastery.

Learning through humility: practical realities of impact in the field

Zach’s commitment to service matured through a mix of trial, error, and sustained humility. After his rookie NFL season, Zach joined his twin brother on a trip to Uganda, participating in an agricultural pump project designed by a local plumber. The experience woke him up: “I just felt fully alive, fully alive in that experience.” He continues, “I am better for going. The value that I get in my life, I am fully convinced that the purpose of life, the way to combat all these things is service of others.”

But the road was full of challenges. “I think I built the same sport court three times,” Zach admits, voicing a sentiment familiar to anyone who’s tried to drive impact from the outside. Cultural assumptions often resulted in well-built houses that missed the real need—“we cook outside, you know?” The most important lesson: meaningful work only happens when members come alongside those who live and understand the context.

He warns against surface-level feel-good approaches: “It’s so easy to go out and be like, 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.” Zach’s solution is straightforward: lean into humility, learn from mistakes, and collaborate with partners who are present and experienced.

Strategies for lasting impact: local partnerships, transparency, and pooled giving

As Zach’s approach grew more focused, he became an advocate for a different model—one built on sustainability, local partnership, and transparency. “Aid is about as terrible of a concept as we can have with these things,” he observes, referring to models that foster dependency. Zach now commits to sustainable funding strategies: “I really think that…I think the call forward for us in this world and in every world is sustainable giving through funds and through endowments.”

He goes further: “It’s partnering with locals, people who are already there and doing it and equipping them. Like we’re the boosters. They’re the rocket ship and the payload and we are the boosters and how can we support you?” For Zach, the most effective interventions are those organized with, not for, local partners. Mistakes—such as sending outside teams to do the work that local tradespeople could be paid to do—were corrected over time, ultimately bringing greater dignity and effectiveness to every project.

Measuring results is another theme Zach returns to frequently. “How do you put metrics on lives changed? In the business world…and whatever it is that we do, metrics are everything…when it comes to giving, philanthropy, it’s very difficult.” He’s clear that transparency—regular, open accounting and updates—must be at the core of every impactful program. That’s why Zach values strategies like our All Access Fund, which pools giving from members to be granted only to vetted portfolio partners and reports back on every program and expense. “If one stick of dynamite can 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 [our fund]…if we pool our resources, we’re able to go to one and actually make a difference.”

Conclusion: A call to thoughtful, sustainable, and measurable giving

Zach Sudfeld’s journey teaches us that fighting global poverty requires more than generosity—it demands humility, willingness to learn, and sustained partnership with locals who live the day-to-day realities. He urges that genuine, lasting impact is anchored not in a single project or short trip, but in long-term commitment, strategic giving, and openness to transparency and course correction. “It is a commitment not even to like a particular group or organization, but to a country, to a culture, and ultimately to people, to humanity.”

This is exactly why we built the All Access Fund—to evaluate portfolio partners thoroughly, grant with wisdom, stay transparent, and maximize what each member contributes. If you’re ready to give effectively, to pool your giving so it can be measured and multiplied for real, lasting change, I invite you to join us. Become a member—your purpose, experience, and commitment belong in this work as we help create sustainable, measurable impact where it matters most.