February 22, 2022

CURE Epilepsy Earns Highest Rating from Charity Navigator

Leading Non-Profit Epilepsy Research Organization Recognized for Delivering on Mission in Financially Efficient and Transparent Way

Chicago, February 22, 2022 – CURE Epilepsy is incredibly proud to have earned the 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator, the world’s largest and most trusted nonprofit evaluator. The 4-Star designation means that CURE Epilepsy exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its Cause. It also demonstrates CURE Epilepsy’s excellence, strong financial health, and commitment to adhering to non-profit best practices and executing on our mission in a financially efficient way.

Through this rating system, Charity Navigator empowers donors by providing them with critical decision-making information so that they have confidence in whom they are giving their charitable gifts. The organization reviews non-profits on objective data which include: revenue, IRS tax status, fundraising expenses, administrative expenses, length of operations, public support, and location.

“Receiving a 4-Star rating on Charity Navigator reinforces that CURE Epilepsy is operating at the highest level of financial transparency and efficiency. As a non-profit, it’s essential that our donors, corporate partners, and volunteers can trust that we will steward their donations effectively to achieve our mission of promoting and funding patient-focused research to find a cure for epilepsy and deliver on their expectations,” said Beth Dean, CURE Epilepsy, CEO. “CURE Epilepsy has always held itself to the highest standards. This recognition highlights that we are being acknowledged for the excellence of our approach and commitment to everyone in the epilepsy community.”

CURE Epilepsy was founded in 1998 by Susan Axelrod and a small group of parents who were frustrated by their inability to protect their children from seizures and the side effects of medications. Their goal was to accelerate funding research to find a cure for epilepsy. Since our inception, and thanks to the generosity of donors, corporations, and the community, CURE Epilepsy has:

  • Raised over $85 million to fund more than 270 research projects in 17 countries worldwide.
  • Led the charge in raising public awareness and funding for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), one of the most devastating outcomes of epilepsy, including investing over $5.3M for more than 38 SUDEP research projects.
  • Implemented a multi-disciplinary, multi-location approach to researching the prevention and treatment of post-traumatic epilepsy with a $10 million grant from the Department of Defense.
  • Invested over $4.1 million to understand infantile spasms, using the first ever team-science research approach in the epilepsy community. Findings have been numerous and included team members securing an additional $4.4 million in expected funding from the National Institute of Health.

“CURE Epilepsy is so honored to receive this rating,” said Kelly Cervantes, CURE Epilepsy’s Board of Directors Chair. “This achievement is only possible because of our amazing community, researchers, volunteers, and staff. Together we are focused on creating an organization that is unrelenting in its vision to build a world without epilepsy in the most effective and efficient way. Earning the 4-Star rating further highlights our dedication to exceeding our donors’ expectations. Through research there is hope.”

In addition to our 4-Star Charity Navigator rating, CURE Epilepsy is proud to be a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, a GuideStar Platinum Transparency Charity, a Great Nonprofits Top-Rated Charity, and a Combined Federal Campaign Charity.

To donate or learn more about CURE Epilepsy, please visit CUREepilepsy.org. You can also follow us on our social channels at @CUREforEpilepsy on Facebook, and @CUREepilepsy on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.