The Storytelling Impact Fund
Based on research that proves stories can change minds, we built a strategy that can change the world.
Groundbreaking research published this year by the Gill Foundation confirms what we’ve known all along: narrative storytelling changes hearts and minds. The Storytelling Impact Fund is I’m From Driftwood’s bold new initiative to bring authentic queer and trans stories directly to the people who need them most: moderate and conservative Americans.
Why Now
Across the country, LGBTQIA+ people are being misunderstood, misrepresented, or erased. Facts alone rarely shift opinions; connection does.
Storytelling builds understanding because people respond to shared values like family, belonging, and love long before they respond to statistics.
What the Research Shows
The Gill Foundation analyzed more than 90 million online conversations among conflicted, moderate, and conservative men, not those who already support LGBTQIA+ equality.
The findings were clear:
• Stories work where arguments don’t. Personal emotionally honest stories have measurably increased empathy and reduced bias.
• Authenticity builds trust. Real people sharing real stories outperformed advocacy messaging.
• Shared values resonate. Themes of family and belonging opened hearts without defensiveness.
• Trusted messengers matter. Parents, siblings, veterans, and local leaders were especially effective.
This is the same storytelling approach IFD has modeled for over 16 years.
Why IFD Is Made for This Moment
IFD is uniquely positioned for this moment:
• 1,000+ existing stories from all 50 states
• Archived at NYU’s Fales Library and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
• One of the most trusted global sources of LGBTQIA+ storytelling
• Nonpartisan, human-centered, and community grounded
We know how to meet people where they are, with stories that create connection instead of conflict.
Our Commitment
The Storytelling Impact Fund will share authentic queer and trans stories with 3 million moderate and conservative viewers by 2028, tracking measurable increases in empathy and understanding.
This is not a political campaign. It’s a human one.
How We’ll Do It
We’re not starting from scratch. We’re scaling what already works.
Here’s how we’ll use I’m From Driftwood’s 16-year archive of queer and trans stories to reach 3 million moderate and conservative viewers nationwide:
• Influencer Partnerships. Collaborating with trusted creators whose audiences include the movable middle, moderate and conservative viewers who already respect their voices, to share stories where empathy is most needed.
• Targeted Digital Amplification. Using data-driven reach to deliver stories directly into the online spaces, including Instagram and TikTok, that shape public attitudes.
• Impact Tracking. Evaluating audience response through focus groups, comment analysis, and conversation monitoring to measure growth in empathy and understanding.
Together, these strategies turn lived experience into a measurable force for connection and change.
Let’s Do This
Our goal is to raise $250,000 to bring I’m From Driftwood’s stories directly to the people who need them most, the movable middle of moderate and conservative audiences.
Your Support Will Help Us:
• Adapt and amplify existing IFD stories for short-form platforms
• Partner with trusted creators whose audiences include the movable middle
• Reach 3 million moderate and conservative viewers across the United States
• Track measurable growth in empathy and understanding through focus groups and engagement analysis
By reaching the people who need these stories most, we can change minds and change the world, one story at a time.