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Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Tennessee

EIN 58-1309190 · Chattanooga, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION SETN, WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE AND NORTHWEST GEORGIA AFFECTED BY SEIZURES AND EPILEPSY. WE RECOGNIZE THAT A DIAGNOSIS OF EPILEPSY IS LIFE-CHANGING, AND OUR MISSION IS TO RAISE AWARENESS, REDUCE STIGMA, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO HELP BUILD A NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY EPILEPSY AS THEY NAVIGATE THEIR JOURNEY.

Income
$167,806
Spending
$301,391
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
7
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$63,373, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (diseases, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (diseases, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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 June 30, 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)
  1. $168,545 spent. THE MEDICATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WAS SPECIFICALLY CREATED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH EPILEPSY, WHO LIVE AT OR BELOW THE U.S. FEDERAL POVERTY LINE, WITH PURCHASING THEIR MEDICATION. EACH CLIENT WHO ENROLLS IN THIS PROGRAM IS ELIGIBLE FOR AN ANNUAL STIPEND OF $400 WHICH CAN BE USED AT THEIR DISCRETION. 71 TRANSACTIONS OF PRESCRIPTIONS WERE FILLED DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, OVER $5,000. OUR NEUROLOGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDE SUPPORTS TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH EPILEPSY WHO NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH EXAMINATION AND CONSULTATION APPOINTMENTS. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, WE SUPPORTED TEN VISITS TOTALLING OVER $2,500. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION WITH INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH EPILEPSY WHO CAN NOT OR CHOOSE NOT TO DRIVE. WE HAD 89 TRANSACTIONS/REQUESTS BETWEEN UBER/LYFT AND CARTA SPENDING OVER $5,000 FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. ART THERAPY IS A MULTI-WEEK ART PROGRAM THAT GIVES YOUTH, AGES 6-18, WITH EPILEPSY AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATIVELY EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ART AND TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT AMOUNG THEIR PEERS. WITH A NEW FORMAT TO FURTHER CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY AMONG PARTICIPANTS, SEVEN YOUTH WERE PART OF THE ART PROGRAM DURING THE WINTER 2025 COHORT
  2. $3,151 spent. EACH QUARTER (AT LEAST ONCE), THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE HOSTS OUR SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS FOR ANYONE WHO IS IMPACTED BY EPILEPSY. THESE MEETINGS ARE A GREAT PLACE TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING THOUGH AS WELL AS HEAR EXPERT GUESTS FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF FIELDS. THESE GUESTS INCLUDE NEUROLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, ATTORNEYS, AND PHARMACISTS (AMONG OTHERS). WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT NEW FORMATS AND OFFERINGS FOR THIS PROGRAM.
  3. $28,576 spent. OUR 2024 WALK FOR EPILEPSY EVENT IN NOVEMBER SAW OVER 140 PEOPLE PARTICIPATING TO SUPPORT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH EPILEPSY. OUR HELMET PROGRAM ALSO CONTINUES TO SEE AN INFLUX IN NEED AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE CATERED TO SPECIFIC POPULATIONS/AGES AND WE PROVIDE TRAINING INFORMATION RELATED TO SEIZURE RECOGNITION AND FIRST-AID. THESE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE PERFECT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL FIRST-RESPONDERS, DAY CARE EMPLOYEES, COMMUNITY FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS, AND ANY BUSINESSES THAT MAY WANT TO LEARN ABOUT EPILEPSY AND RESPONSE. THIS INCLUDED THE CITY OF CHATTANOOGA AND JERSEY COLLEGE NURSING STUDENTS IN 2024-2025. SEIZURE FIRST AID TRAININGS ARE NOW OFFERED ON-DEMAND THROUGH A LEARNING PORTAL ONLINE, THUS MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR MEMBERS OF OUR SERVICE AREA AND ACROSS THE STATE. ONE OF OUR TEEN'S LIVING WITH EPILEPSY WAS SELECTED TO REPRESENT THE 456,000 YOUTH LIVING WITH EPILEPSY IN THE U.S. TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TEEN SPEAK UP ADVOCACY PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON D.C. THIS INCLUDES A YEAR OF SERVICE TO THE LOCAL EFSETN CHAPTER. SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE FROM TN SELECTED. SHE WAS ONE OF SIXTY-THREE TOTAL PARTICIPANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 June 2002.

    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.