The Epilepsy Foundation of America is the leading voluntary health organization dedicated to the welfare of people living with epilepsy and seizure disorders in the United States. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Bowie, Maryland, the Foundation serves more than 3.4 million Americans living with epilepsy through education, advocacy, research, and direct community services.
Charity Journal ratings are independent assessments based on publicly available data. Organisations may submit corrections to our editorial team.
Here’s why you should donate to Epilepsy Foundation of America
Transparency: B+ (90/100)
The Epilepsy Foundation publishes annual reports, audited financial statements, and IRS Form 990 filings that are publicly accessible on its website and through ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer. Financial disclosures are detailed and timely, and the organization clearly communicates how donor funds are allocated. Meanwhile, its financial information page notes that well over 65% of total expenses are on programs.
Financial health: B (80/100)
The Foundation’s most recent Form 990 (FY2024, ending June 2024) reports total revenue of $15.6 million against expenses of $16.5 million, resulting in a net operating deficit of approximately $921,000. This follows a surplus year in FY2023 ($1.86 million net income on $17.8 million revenue) and reflects a broader multi-year revenue decline from a peak of $28.6 million in FY2020.
At the moment, total assets stand at $21.3 million with liabilities of $1.5 million, giving the organization a healthy net asset position of $19.8 million, providing reasonable financial stability in the near term. Meanwhile, revenue is overwhelmingly contribution-dependent at 97%, which introduces vulnerability to donor fluctuation. According to the Foundation’s own published data, $0.83 of every dollar raised goes directly to programs, research, education, and advocacy.
Impact & effectiveness: A- (87/100)
The Epilepsy Foundation has trained over 600,000 people in seizure recognition and first aid in partnership with the CDC, a landmark public health achievement. It operates the world’s most visited epilepsy website, runs a national helpline staffed by trained epilepsy specialists, and funds early-career epilepsy research through its research grants program.
Its SAGE AI assistant provides medically reviewed epilepsy information 24/7, extending its reach beyond traditional service hours. Meanwhile, the Foundation’s multicultural outreach program awards grants to community organizations specifically to address epilepsy disparities among underserved and minority populations. Furthermore, the breadth and consistency of its public health impact across five-plus decades, combined with demonstrable digital reach and active advocacy on Capitol Hill, earns it a strong impact score.
Governance: B+ (82/100)
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors that includes no compensation for board members, which is standard best practice. Executive compensation is reasonable for an organization of its size, with the CEO’s compensation of approximately $182,000 in FY2024, which is modest by peer standards. However, the organization navigated an executive leadership transition in FY2023 (moving from an interim CEO to a permanent appointment) without apparent disruption to operations.
Accountability: B+ (84/100)
The Epilepsy Foundation publishes annual reports and audited financial statements consistently and makes them freely accessible to the public. Its Form 990 filings are current and available through its website and third-party databases. The organization operates a formal federal grant compliance process, evidenced by its single audit submissions, which signals institutional accountability beyond what most nonprofits are required to demonstrate
Community trust: A− (88/100)
The Epilepsy Foundation is the most recognized national organization in the epilepsy ecosystem, with more than five decades of continuous operation and a nationwide network of affiliates. Its partnership with the CDC, collaboration with 54 epilepsy organizations through the Epilepsies Action Network, and Capitol Hill advocacy work signal broad institutional trust.
Meanwhile, its epilepsy helpline, community walks, and National Epilepsy Awareness Month campaign maintain strong public-facing engagement. The organization’s CEO, Bernice Martin Lee, is herself a person living with epilepsy, a leadership detail that resonates with the community it serves.
“At the Epilepsy Foundation of America, our mission is to improve the lives of people affected by epilepsy through education, advocacy, research, and connection.” Every day, we work to ensure that people with epilepsy and their families have access to trusted information, critical support services, innovative research, and a strong community so no one faces epilepsy alone.”
– Bernice “Bee” Martin Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Epilepsy Foundation of America.
What your donation does
$26
Joins the GIVE26 community and supports ongoing epilepsy awareness and education programs.
$50
Helps fund seizure first aid training for one school, care facility, or first responder team.
$100
Contributes to the epilepsy helpline, keeping trained specialists available to patients and caregivers.
$500
Supports a multicultural outreach mini-grant, helping underserved communities access epilepsy awareness and services.
Achievements in the last 12 months
- Launched SAGE, an AI-powered epilepsy assistant built on over 20 years of expert-reviewed knowledge, providing trusted medical information and support to people with epilepsy and caregivers around the clock
- Launched EmpowER&D, a patient-centered research platform that enables people with epilepsy to securely share health data and connect medical records with researchers and healthcare providers to accelerate new therapies
- Led National Epilepsy Awareness Month 2025 with a nationwide “All In” awareness campaign, including a Closing Bell ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange, reaching millions through education, advocacy, and seizure first aid training
- Convened the Public Policy Institute 2026 on Capitol Hill, mobilizing the epilepsy community to advance the National Plan for Epilepsy Act and urge Congress to create a comprehensive national strategy for epilepsy care and research
- Launched the GIVE26 national fundraising campaign, turning the “1 in 26” lifetime epilepsy statistic into a peer-to-peer fundraising movement supporting programs, education, and research for people affected by epilepsy.
What donors should consider before giving to Epilepsy Foundation of America
- Revenue has declined significantly from a peak of $28.6 million in FY2020 to $15.6 million in FY2024, a trend worth monitoring over the next reporting period
- The operating deficit in FY2024 ($921,000) is a yellow flag, though the strong net asset position of $19.8 million provides adequate near-term stability
- Meanwhile, revenue is almost entirely contribution-dependent (97%), creating vulnerability to donor fluctuation with little earned income to buffer downturns
- The Foundation operates nationally rather than locally. Donors seeking to see direct, community-level impact may also find that the scale of operations makes individual impact harder to trace.
Final verdict for Epilepsy Foundation of America
The Epilepsy Foundation of America is a well-established, broadly trusted national organization with a strong track record in public health education, advocacy, and seizure first aid training. Furthermore, its community credibility and decades of consistent mission delivery make it a legitimate and worthwhile giving destination.