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Epilepsy Support Network of Orange County

EIN 27-0681680 · Costa Mesa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMITTED TO BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY EPILEPSY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SUPPORT GROUPS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED WITH EPILEPSY CONTROL THE FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURE AND PROVIDE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO SORT THROUGH THE MEDICAL, EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF THIS COMPLEX NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION.

Income
$342,367
Spending
$347,823
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
9
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$69,600, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $64,193 spent. PROGRAM NIGHT: OUR COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT MEETS TO OFFER OUR 10 PROGRAMS. MEMBERS CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER (ON VIRTUAL PLATFORM'S) AND LEARN FROM OUR EXPERT GUEST SPEAKERS WHO SPECIALIZE IN EPILEPSY AND OTHER RELATED FIELDS FROM CHOC, HOAG, UCI AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL PROGRAM NIGHT TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ON VIRTUAL PLATFORMS.
  2. $56,169 spent. INTAKE AND REFERRAL PROGRAM: IMMEDIATE SUPPORT PROVIDED TO FIRST TIME CALLERS THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION FOR BEST POSSIBLE SEIZURE AND SYMPTOM CONTROL. CALLERS ARE CONNECTED TO OUR MOST APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS AND REFERRED TO EPILEPSY SPECIALISTS. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT: PROVIDED INFORMATION, REFERRALS AND SUPPORT TO NEWLY DIAGNOSED INDIVIDUALS WITH EPILEPSY AND THOSE EXPERIENCING A REOCCURRENCE OF SEIZURES TO GET THEM TO LOCAL EPILEPSY CENTERS FOR BEST OUTCOMES TO 135 FAMILIES.
  3. $48,145 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS: FREE COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS FOR EPILEPSY EDUCATION TO CREATE SEIZURE SAFE ZONES AROUND THE COUNTY. WE PARTICIPATED IN HEALTH FAIRS, CONFERENCES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR EPILEPSY AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY. PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE: SEIZURE RECOGNITION AND FIRST AID, BUILDING A HEALTHY BRAIN, EPILEPSY 101, ESN PROGRAMS. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: EDUCATED 6,123 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH OUR PRESENTATIONS.
  4. $115,709 spent. PARENT EDUCATIONAL EXPERT SERIES: AN EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS WITH A CHILD OR TEEN DIAGNOSED WITH EPILEPSY TO LEARN ABOUT THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION, TREATMENTS AND RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF EPILEPSY. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: EDUCATED 445 PARENTS.TEEN CLUB: SOCIAL SKILLS GROUP HELPING TEENS WITH EPILEPSY TO BUILD SELF ESTEEM, FRIENDSHIP SKILLS AND STAY SOCIALLY CONNECTED IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. TYPICAL TEENS SERVE AS PEER ROLE MODELS TO TEACH APPROPRIATE SOCIAL BEHAVIORS. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: FACILITATED SUCCESSFUL TEEN OUTING, SERVED 174 TEENS. FRIDAY FRIENDS CLUB: WHILE PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH EPILEPSY AND ADULTS WITH EPILEPSY ATTEND OUR PROGRAMS, FFC PROVIDES PLAY AND SOCIAL SKILLS TIME FOR DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS IN A SAFE, ACCEPTING, PLAYFUL AND PURPOSEFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR BOTH SPECIAL NEEDS AND TYPICAL CHILDREN. SIBLINGS OF AFFECTED CHILDREN ATTEND TO SERVE AS NEUROTYPICAL ROLE MODELS. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT: EXPANDED LESSON PLANS WITH THEMES, CHARACTER BUILDING, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES; SERVED 1,551 CHILDREN.ADULT EDUCATIONAL EXPERT SERIES: AN EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP FOR ADULTS DIAGNOSED WITH EPILEPSY TO LEARN ABOUT THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION, TREATMENTS AND RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF EPILEPSY. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT: EDUCATED 356 ADULT SOCIAL: THIS MONTHLY SOCIAL GROUP PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OTHER ADULTS WITH EPILEPSY TO SHARE EXPERIENCES, ANSWER QUESTIONS AND MEET NEW FRIENDS; ENABLES ADULTS WITH EPILEPSY TO CONNECT, SHARE RESOURCES AND CHALLENGES WITH ONE ANOTHER AS THEY ARE USUALLY SOCIALLY ISOLATED. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT: CONNECTED 129 ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO MEANINGUL RELATIONSHIPS.PARENT EDUCATIONAL EXPERT SERIES - SPANISH AN EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS WITH A CHILD OR TEEN DIAGNOSED WITH EPILEPSY TO LEARN ABOUT THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION, TREATMENTS AND RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF EPILEPSY WITH SPANISH TRANSLATION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: EXPANDED GROUP; EDUCATED 88 PARENTS.EMOTIONAL SUPPORT GROUPS FOR PARENTS: AN ENCOURAGING AND UPLIFTING SUPPORT GROUP FACILITATED BY A LICENSED, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST WHO SPECIALIZES IN EPILEPSY. PARENTS MET MONTHLY TO DISCUSS ALL AREAS OF LIFE AFFECTED BY EPILEPSY. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: COUNSELED 55 PARENTS.ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS: PROVIDED 7-DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOUR ONLINE ACCESS TO PARENTS WITH DIVERSE EXPERIENCE IN PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT: NEWLY DIAGNOSED PARENTS QUICKLY CONNECTED WITH ONLINE SUPPORT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.