R O W Foundation
R O W Foundation is a private foundation based in Lisle, Illinois, that works to improve the quality of care available to people with epilepsy and associated psychiatric disorders in under-resourced areas of the world. It supports work in training, diagnosis, and treatment, and partners with other organizations to deliver programs.
R O W Foundation at a glance
In short: R O W Foundation gave $3.9M across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $107K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,858,008
- +247.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $107,167
- +286.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,948
- Total assets
- $26,723
- -68.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to R O W Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website says proposals are accepted by invitation only from potential partners focused on people with epilepsy and/or associated psychiatric disorders, operating in lower-resource regions, and legally registered as organizations. It does not fund individuals directly. No application materials or deadline are specified.
- Contact
Mailing address: 701 Warrenville Road 200, Lisle, IL 60532
Phone: (630) 791-0247
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who R O W Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Direct Relief ($2.4M). Together the top 10 received $3.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
155 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 137 grants of 155 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as serving under-resourced areas of the world. Its website says it partners with organizations in under-served areas domestically and internationally. In 2024, 62% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 30% to recipients in Tennessee; the remaining reported shares included New Jersey and North Carolina at 1% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How R O W Foundation gives
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 105% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $783K (2022) to $17.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $3.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Relief Santa Barbara, CA | Seizure control for people with epilepsy in low-income areas. | $2,381,400 |
| Dispensary of Hope Nashville, TN | Seizure control for people with epilepsy in low-income areas. | $1,173,112 |
| Hospital Provincial General De Reference De Bukavu | Seizure control for people with epilepsy in low-income areas. | $57,180 |
| University Teaching Hospital | Improved care and seizure control for people with epilepsy in low-income areas. | $36,904 |
| Healey International Relief Foundation Cherry Hill, NJ | Seizure control for people with epilepsy in low-income areas. | $29,960 |
| West Atlantic Brain & Stroke Foundation Greensboro, NC | Seizure control for people with epilepsy in low-income areas. | $28,152 |
| Rwanda Pediatric Association | Epilepsy health worker training and treatment support in low-income areas. | $25,000 |
| Map International Brunswick, GA | Seizure control for people with epilepsy in low-income areas. | $16,704 |
| Pretola Global Health and Consulting | Epilepsy Training for Health Workers in Low-Income Areas. | $15,000 |
| Queen Elizabeth Hospital | Seizure control for people with epilepsy in low-income areas. | $13,020 |
Ready to take the next step with R O W Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $26,723 | $3,891,089 | $3,920,078 | $3,858,008 | 36 | $3,919,136 | $52,628 | $1,310 |
| 2023 | $85,442 | $1,204,093 | $1,197,972 | $1,109,287 | 40 | $1,196,572 | $33,563 | $3,382 |
| 2022 | $80,326 | $816,268 | $894,431 | $782,556 | 43 | $876,262 | — | $5,285 |
| 2021 | $144,793 | $1,992,097 | $2,042,878 | $1,879,954 | 28 | $1,964,233 | — | $3,232 |
| 2020 | $120,405 | $18,028,922 | $17,966,428 | $17,789,746 | 8 | — | — | $3,201 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, R O W Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve the quality of training, diagnosis, and treatment available to people with epilepsy and associated psychiatric disorders in under-resourced areas. Its website describes support for epilepsy and associated psychiatric disorders through partner-led work that includes medication access, health-worker training, community education, and diagnostic services.
The foundation’s 2024 grants included support for organizations with a range of health-related missions. Direct Relief describes its work as humanitarian aid to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies. MAP International describes itself as a Christian organization providing medicines and health supplies to people in need. CURE International says its hospital network provides surgical care for children living with disabilities. Solidarity Bridge describes its work as partnering with communities in Bolivia and Paraguay to increase access to safe, affordable surgery and other essential health care.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 36 grants totaling $3,858,008. Grant sizes ranged from $500 to $2,381,400, with a median grant of $3,948. The largest awards were $2,381,400 to Direct Relief and $1,173,112 to Dispensary of Hope; both were designated for seizure control for people with epilepsy in low-income areas. Other notable awards included $57,180 to Hospital Provincial General de Reference de Bukavu and $36,904 to University Teaching Hospital for epilepsy care and seizure control.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Paul S. Regan as president; Mark Peterson as vice chair; Bruce T. Duncan as secretary/treasurer; Patricia A. Gibson, Emilio Perucca, and Marvin A. Rossi as directors; and Carol Gavin as chair.
R O W Foundation is led by Paul S. Regan, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Paul S. Regan
President
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Gavin
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marvin A. Rossi
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia A. Gibson
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emilio Perucca
Director
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce T. Duncan
Secretary & Treasurer
Sectretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Peterson
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Ruth Boyer (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Scott Boyer (2020–2022) — Chair · Filing note: Thru 222
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about R O W Foundation
How much does R O W Foundation give each year?
R O W Foundation gave $3.9M across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 40 grants.
What is R O W Foundation's typical grant size?
R O W Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,948, and its average grant was $107,167, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does R O W Foundation give grants?
R O W Foundation gives mostly in California: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (30%).
Does R O W Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on R O W Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are R O W Foundation's largest grantees?
R O W Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Direct Relief ($2,381,400), Dispensary of Hope ($1,173,112) and Hospital Provincial General De Reference De Bukavu ($57,180), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 94% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is R O W Foundation?
R O W Foundation reported $27K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does R O W Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve the quality of training, diagnosis, and treatment available to people with epilepsy and associated psychiatric disorders in under-resourced areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from R O W Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is R O W Foundation's EIN?
R O W Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1520191. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does R O W Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work R O W Foundation funds
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in R O W Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). R O W Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/r-o-w-foundation-morg_6656b516512342fa932861b0f5551550
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_471520191_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{R O W Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/r-o-w-foundation-morg_6656b516512342fa932861b0f5551550},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from R O W Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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