Milkleaf
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Milkleaf creates and presents innovative dance experiences and multidisciplinary artistic collaborations that engage and educate the community and provide dancers and ancillary professionals opportunities to develop and expand their craft.
- Income
- $43,855
- Spending
- $8,691
- Reserves
- 83.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
- $7,691 spent. Artistic Creation and Performance: This year, milkleaf focused on the presentation of existing pieces, expansion of professional networks, and the development of new artistic content. Adaptations Dance Theater commissioned Homeward for premiere in Maui and we restaged Kindling for the local community at the San Pedro Arts Festival and 25th Orange County Arts Awards. Our film All of Us continued to screen worldwide at festivals in Colorado, Mexico, Illinois, Maine, and beyond. Projects completed for upcoming 2026 premieres included the screendance Arms of Gravity and the concert duet History of Her. Expenses were intentionally low, conserving funds for future productions.
- Education & Outreach: Milkleaf's 5-year plan includes building relationships with local, regional, and national dance organizations, emphasizing pre-professional and professional dance education to contribute to high quality training in modern dance. The President accepted teaching invitations from The Wooden Floor and Orange County School for the Arts in Southern California in addition to offering a workshop at The American Dance Festival in North Carolina. She presented her pedagogical research at the 2025 National Dance Education Organization National Conference, titled "The Power of Movement: Dance Education Traditions and Innovations," in Detroit MI. These and other outreach activities were financed through guest artist honoraria and other organizations, benefiting milkleaf at no cost.
- $1,000 spent. Institutional Development: Milkleaf continued to develop its institutional capabilities by reviewing and complying with California's requirements for 501(c)(3) corporations, and developing its website including a donation window. Milkleaf applied for two national grants: The Democracy Cycle (not awarded) and Creative Capital (not awarded). Milkleaf began issuing a newsletter to publicize its activities. Two new board members were recruited to broaden the expertise and resources milkleaf can draw on from its Board of Directors. There is room to recruit more members for the Board. The costs associated with this category are a share of administrative overhead.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 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.