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Story Leaf

EIN 84-4582283 · Walnut Creek, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STORY LEAF IS A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC BENEFIT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CREATED FOR PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES. SPECIFICALLY, STORY LEAF'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND BRING AWARENESS TO SOCIAL, MEDICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WORLDWIDE THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSA). THROUGH THE MERGING OF EDUCATION, RESEARCH, SOCIAL MEDIA, STORYTELLING AND ENTERTAINMENT, STORY LEAF AIMS TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND PUBLIC CAUSES ON A GLOBAL AND LOCAL SCALE BY SPREADING EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ABOUT THE ISSUE. ULTIMATELY, THE FOUNDATION HOPES TO BE THE BRIDGE BETWEEN GLOBAL AWARENESS AND LOCAL ACTION AND SUPPORT. STORY LEAF WILL PURSUE THIS MISSION BY FOCUSING ON THE FOLLOWING TWO CATEGORIES: (1) SELECTION OF A WORTHY CAUSE FOR EACH PROJECT, AND (2) DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT.SELECTION OF A CAUSE (40 PERCENT OF TOTAL TIME AND 10 PERCENT OF THE EXPENSES ALLOCATED TO THIS ACTIVITY)STORY LEAF WILL ACCEPT APPLICATIONS ON A ROLLING BASIS FROM NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION

Income
$237,196
Spending
$420,148
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$60,000, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 77% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $420,148 spent. DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT (60 PERCENT OF TOTAL TIME AND 90 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL EXPENSES ALLOCATED TO THIS ACTIVITY)PRODUCTION FOR THESE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE DONE WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND ARTISTRY AVAILABLE IN CALIFORNIA. STORY LEAF WILL REQUEST SEPARATE BIDS FOR EACH POTENTIAL PROJECT FROM INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND THIRD PARTY VENDORS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING THE PSA. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL SELECT CONTRACTORS AND VENDORS BASED ON THE SCOPE, SIZE, BUDGET AND APPLICABLE CAUSE. STORY LEAF ANTICIPATES DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA ON A GLOBAL SCALE. TOGETHER WITH A SKILLED TEAM OF FILMMAKERS, STORYTELLERS AND ANIMATORS, STORY LEAF CAN CREATE OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS WHILE CAPTURING THE ATTENTION OF THE AUDIENCE. DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT (60 PERCENT OF TOTAL TIME AND 90 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL EXPENSES ALLOCATED TO THIS ACTIVITY)PRODUCTION FOR THESE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE DONE WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND ARTISTRY AVAILABLE IN CALIFORNIA. STORY LEAF WILL REQUEST SEPARATE BIDS FOR EACH POTENTIAL PROJECT FROM INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND THIRD PARTY VENDORS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING THE PSA. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL SELECT CONTRACTORS AND VENDORS BASED ON THE SCOPE, SIZE, BUDGET AND APPLICABLE CAUSE. STORY LEAF ANTICIPATES DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA ON A GLOBAL SCALE. TOGETHER WITH A SKILLED TEAM OF FILMMAKERS, STORYTELLERS AND ANIMATORS, STORY LEAF CAN CREATE OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS WHILE CAPTURING THE ATTENTION OF THE AUDIENCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2023.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.