Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California

What Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California does

The Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California (EFNC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1953 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, serving individuals and families affected by epilepsy across the Northern California region. The organization delivers a portfolio of free community programs including demographic-specific support groups (Adult, Adolescent/Teen, Parent/Caregiver, Older Adults 55+, Spanish-speaking, and hobby sub-groups for Gaming and Writing), residential summer camps at CYO Camp in Occidental, CA (Camp Coelho for ages 9-17 and a new Young Adults Camp debuting in 2026 for ages 18-24), therapeutic art classes, the HOBSCOTCH and PACES in Epilepsy educational programs, scholarships, and free seizure first-aid training for schools and organizations. Camp medical staffing is provided 24/7 by UCSF pediatric epilepsy clinicians (epileptologist, PA, NP, nurses). EFNC operates with a lean staff of 12 employees and relies on a network of peer facilitators and clinical volunteers.

EFNC's business model is donation- and event-driven rather than transactional. All programs and services are provided free of charge, with camp scholarships ensuring no participant is turned away due to financial need. Revenue comes from individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, and recurring fundraising events including the Warriors CA Classic (with a $10 per community-ticket donation component), the Golden Age Gala for Epilepsy, Walk 4 Epilepsy SF, and the Seize the Moment Run. The organization maintains a diversified sponsor base spanning academic medical centers (UC Davis Health, Stanford Health Care, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, UCSF Epilepsy Center), pharmaceutical companies (UCB, SK Life Sciences, Neurelis, Jazz Pharma), medical device firms (Neuropace), and consumer/corporate brands (Waymo, Treeline Security). EFNC's technology footprint is minimal: programs are delivered via Zoom and in-person, the website runs on WordPress/Colibri, and the organization promotes rather than builds the third-party Memo-ries memory application. The organization earned the Candid (formerly GuideStar) Gold Transparency seal for 2025 and is governed by a Board of Directors and a Professional Advisory Board, with stated affiliation to the national Epilepsy Foundation via epilepsy.com.

Name

Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California

Legal name

Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California

Website

https://epilepsynorcal.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving individuals and families affected by epilepsy in Northern California through free support groups, residential camps (ages 9-24), seizure first-aid training, and educational programs, funded by donations and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy and Epilepsy Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Epilepsy & Seizure Disorders (HLAKAIAB), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Epilepsy support services
• Patient advocacy nonprofit
• Chronic disease programs
• Caregiver education
• Community health support

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco Bay Area

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations directly support programs and services for individuals and families affected by epilepsy, including camps, support groups, and first-aid trainings.
2. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated from events such as the Warriors CA Classic, Golden Age Gala, Walk 4 Epilepsy, and Seize the Moment Run. The Warriors event includes a $10 donation component per ticket.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California is a nonprofit organization that provides free support groups, residential camps, classes, scholarships, and seizure first-aid training to individuals and families affected by epilepsy across Northern California. Programs are delivered both in-person and virtually (primarily via Zoom), and all services are offered at no cost to remove financial barriers to access.

Product overview

The Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California offers a portfolio of community support programs and services for individuals and families affected by epilepsy. The core offerings include various support groups (Adult, Adolescent/Teen, Parent/Caregiver, Older Adults, and specialty sub-groups for Gaming and Writing), residential camps (Camp Coelho for ages 9-17 and a new Young Adults Camp for ages 18-24), and free seizure first aid training. The organization also promotes a third-party memory app called Memo-ries, which serves individuals with memory challenges. Programs are delivered through both online platforms (primarily Zoom) and in-person at various Northern California locations. All support groups are facilitated by individuals with epilepsy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Support Group
• Adolescent/Teen Support Group
• Parent/Caregiver Support Group
• Older Adults (55+) Support Group
• Eric's Corner Hybrid In-Person Support Group
• Adult Therapeutic Art Class
• Camp Coelho (Coelho Epilepsy Youth Summer Camp)

Quantifiable outcome

• Never turned down a camper due to financial need
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UC Davis HealthcoreOthersHealthcare sponsor supporting the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California's mission to serve individuals and families affected by epilepsy in Northern California.
• Stanford Health CarecoreOthersHealthcare sponsor and host of Eric's Corner hybrid in-person support group at Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley location in Pleasanton, CA.
• UCSF Benioff Children's HospitalcoreOthersHealthcare sponsor supporting the foundation's programs and services.
• UCSF Epilepsy CentercoreOthersMedical partner providing pediatric epileptologist, PA, NP, and nurses for 24/7 on-site medical care at camps throughout the entire week.
• UCBminorOthersPharmaceutical company sponsor.
• SK Life SciencesminorOthersPharmaceutical company sponsor.
• NeurelisminorOthersPharmaceutical company sponsor.
• NeuropaceminorOthersMedical device company sponsor.
• Jazz PharmaminorOthersPharmaceutical company sponsor.
• WaymominorOthersCorporate sponsor.
• Treeline SecurityminorOthersCorporate sponsor.
• Stanford ChildrensminorOthersHealthcare sponsor.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Special Needs Network: A California-based nonprofit serving families of children with special needs and developmental disabilities, including epilepsy. Comparable in community-based service delivery and California geography, though broader in disability scope.

Direct peers

• Pediatric Epilepsy Foundation: A nonprofit focused on supporting children and families affected by pediatric epilepsy, with programs overlapping EFNC's Camp Coelho and family support services.
• Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE): A leading epilepsy-focused nonprofit that funds research and supports the epilepsy community. Comparable as an epilepsy-dedicated nonprofit, though CURE leans more research-focused while EFNC emphasizes direct community services.
• Epilepsy Foundation (National): The national Epilepsy Foundation is EFNC's affiliated umbrella organization. Both deliver epilepsy education, support groups, seizure first-aid training, and advocacy, with the national body providing brand, research, and policy infrastructure that EFNC operates against locally.
• Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County: Another regional Epilepsy Foundation affiliate providing support groups, camps, education, and community events for people affected by epilepsy. Operates with the same affiliate relationship to the national Epilepsy Foundation as EFNC.
• Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles: A regional Epilepsy Foundation affiliate serving Southern California with a comparable mix of community programs, camps, seizure first-aid training, and support services. Closest comparable in mission and operating model, just in a different territory.

Emerging players

• Camp Conrad Chinnok (Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association): Runs residential camping programs for children with neurological conditions, paralleling EFNC's Camp Coelho model with medically-supported residential experiences for affected youth.
• Charlie Foundation for Ketogenic Therapies: A nonprofit promoting ketogenic dietary therapies for epilepsy. Shares the epilepsy-specific mission and education/support orientation, though narrower in therapeutic focus.

Broad incumbents

• American Epilepsy Society: The leading U.S. professional society for clinicians and researchers in epilepsy. Comparable domain but serves medical professionals rather than patients directly, making it a broader incumbent in the epilepsy ecosystem.

Others

• SUDEP Institute (at Epilepsy Foundation): The program arm focused on Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. Directly relevant given EFNC features a SUDEP education section on its own site; comparable in disease-specific education and family support focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EFNORCAL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/EpilepsyFoundationofNorthernCalifornia
• Facebookfacebook.com/epilepsynorcal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epilepsynorcal
• Instagraminstagram.com/epilepsynorcal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California