Empowering Epilepsy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Empowering Epilepsy connects people with epilepsy to experts and peers for education, care, and friendship. We anchor a caring community that empowers our members and their loved ones to better understand and manage their treatment plan throughout their epilepsy journey.
- Income
- $268,660
- Spending
- $319,337
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 12.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $72,685, executive dir.
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 2523 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $275,068 spent. Founded in 2014, our goal is to advance health equity and quality of life for people with epilepsy through integrated services, peer support, education, and systematic innovation in epilepsy care, grounded in research and lived experience. All of Empowering Epilepsy's programs and services were created by people who have lived experience with epilepsy. 1 in 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy in their lifetime. The vast majority of those living with epilepsy feel isolated and alone. They have never met or talked with anyone else who also experiences epilepsy, and they find few resources and help outside of their neurologist or epileptologist's office. That's because people in the general community do not understand that there is so much more to epilepsy than just the seizures. Empowering Epilepsy helps people with epilepsy find proactive ways to lessen their seizures, meet others who are also living with epilepsy, listen to and speak with epilepsy experts, and discover resources to empower their lives. The organization was created by Leigh Goldie, M.Ed., who grew up with Focal Impaired Awareness Seizures, and lived for 14 years with Drug Resistant Epilepsy. She felt misunderstood, anxious since she never knew when she was going to have a seizure, and helpless, as people didn't understand the multitude of effects epilepsy was having on her life. She quickly discovered other people with epilepsy were experiencing the same things. We also focus on Community Outreach efforts to educate others about our free or low cost programs and services. We hold informational booths at community events to teach the general public more about epilepsy, and connect with others who personally understand epilepsy. We also collaborate with epilepsy specialists to share our information with their patients. Our main goal centers around education, which we feel is the key to our clients' success. Teaching more about how knowledge, exercise, socialization, and advocacy can improve their physical, mental, and social health empowers the lives of our community members. Our variety of ongoing programs and services throughout the year that include Art Therapy Classes, Functional Fitness Classes, Bowling Parties, Pottery Painting Parties, Support Groups, Conferences, and more, offer opportunities for people with epilepsy to learn, interact, and grow. Empowering Epilepsy created and developed our 4 Step Patient Education Program to walk with people and their loved ones throughout their epilepsy journey. We focus on helping people living with epilepsy right now. The program directly helps patients and their loved ones learn more as they navigate the course of their journey. We provide a variety of educational experiences that are personalized to each individual person's diagnosis and treatment plan. Most importantly, we focus on showing people with epilepsy what they can do. Our Patient Education Program consists of 4 essential steps: 1.Client Intake - We assess where a person currently is in their epilepsy journey. Are they seeing an epileptologist - a neurologist who specializes in treating epilepsy and seizures. Are they being seen at a Level 3 or 4 Epilepsy Center? How can they collect seizure data to provide to their doctors? 2.Patient Education Program - We have designed a one of a kind Patient Education Program Folder used to teach people with epilepsy more about their epilepsy diagnosis and treatment plan. Educational inserts have been authored by some of the top epilepsy specialists in the country, and are personalized to each community member, based on their specific diagnosis and treatment plan. Teaching them how to better talk to their doctor, and providing more detail about what they are experiencing can help them receive a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan sooner. 3.Monthly Age Based Virtual Support Groups include an hour of Q & A with an epilepsy specialist from a Level 3 or 4 Epilepsy Center from Northeast Ohio, and across the country, and an hour of talk time with other people in their age group who are living with epilepsy. Epilepsy Specialists answer general questions about epilepsy and seizures in the first hour. The second hour consists of meeting others in their age group who are sharing their experiences. Meeting others who are sharing their experiences, and receiving validation that there is so much more to epilepsy than just the seizures is empowering. The Support Groups are offered virtually or in person so anyone from anywhere can attend. They also don't have to drive to get there, as many people with drug resistant epilepsy cannot drive. In addition to many participants from Northeast Ohio, we have many participants from across the country and the world joining to learn more. 4. We hold three annual Educational Conferences with top epilepsy specialists from across the country teaching more about epilepsy and seizures to people with epilepsy and their loved ones. We hold the following conferences annually: A.Brain Surgery Conference in June - The goal is to better explain that Brain Surgery for Epilepsy is an option for those living with focal seizures, but many people with epilepsy don't learn about surgical options until many years after their diagnosis. Epilepsy Specialists answer the following questions: What is brain surgery for epilepsy? Who is a surgical candidate? What different types of surgeries and medical devices are available for people with epilepsy? What does it mean if I have a 50% chance of being seizure free? We also feature a panel discussion from Brain Surgery Survivors to share their journey with Brain Surgery for Epilepsy. B.SUDEP Action Day Talk in October - Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is when an otherwise healthy person with epilepsy dies and there is no other cause of death such as accident, illness, injury, or drowning. Many people with epilepsy are found lying face down in their bed, and until recently, epilepsy was not listed as an offic
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.