Julie Stoecker

Nonprofits are surrounded by numbers. We track how many meals were served. How many counseling sessions were provided. How many students graduated. How many families were housed. Statistics matter. They show scale. They show progress. They help funders understand impact. But numbers alone rarely move people to action. Stories do. Storytelling will beat statistics every time and here is why:

I recently sat in a planning meeting that left me unsettled. A mission-driven organization was excitedly mapping out their newest campaign: three videos featuring surprise gift card giveaways to random people in the community. Random acts of kindness caught on camera. Who doesn't love that? But as the meeting progressed, I couldn't shake a growing unease. The idea was good—genuinely good. Do something nice for someone in the community and capture it on video. Yet something fundamental was...

As a filmmaker, especially one focused on authentic storytelling for nonprofits, I’ve always believed that human connection is the heartbeat of any powerful film. Stories move people not because they’re technically perfect, but because they’re real. Lately, though, I’ve been experimenting with AI in my work—and it’s sparked a lot of questions about what role these tools can (and should) play in the creative process.