Additional Information for Potential Donors
Resources
Living organ donation may raise many questions. LDC provides a resource list to help guide potential organ donors in the decision-making process.*
General Information
American Society of Transplantation (AST) – The AST Living Donor Community of Practice (LDCOP) provides educational materials, including toolkits and webinars, for potential living donors.
American Transplant Foundation – Offers educational resources, financial assistance, and mentoring for living donors, transplant recipients, and caregivers. Registers potential living donors and assists transplant patients seeking a living donor.
Donate Life America (DLA) – Nonprofit organization that handles the National Donate Life Registry, where anyone can register to be an organ donor. In December 2021, DLA launched the National Donate Life Living Donor Registry, which facilitates nondirected living kidney donation. The program continues to expand in phases. The registry intends to improve the referral and evaluation process at living donor programs so more transplant candidates can receive a life-saving kidney. SRTR's LDC handles long-term follow-up of living donor outcomes, while DLA focuses on connecting potential non-directed donors to a living donor program.
Donor Shield – Provides resources for living kidney and liver donors, including lost wage reimbursement, financial assistance for travel and dependent care, and legal services. Backed by the National Kidney Registry.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) - Organ Donation – US government source on organ donation, with educational resources and easy access to sign up as a potential donor.
New England Donor Services – Coordinates organ and tissue donation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, the eastern counties of Vermont, and Bermuda. Has resources for those considering donation, living donors, and the families of donors.
Renewal – Provides resources and support for patients with various types of kidney disease in finding a living donor and transplantation.
The United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) - Transplant Living – Nonprofit organization with a variety of living donor information, from its history to FAQs.
The United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) - Transplant - Living Donation – Nonprofit organization with a variety of living donor information, from data figures to more resources.
Kidney Organizations
Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation (APKD) – Organization that addresses the kidney paired donation process for recipients and donors.
American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) – Centers on the well-being and needs of kidney patients through education, community, support groups, and patient advocacy.
American Kidney Fund (AKF) – Provides information on kidney disease, becoming a kidney donor, and the transplant process.
National Kidney Foundation (NKF) – Organization with The Big Ask, The Big Give project, which helps begin the conversation about living kidney donation.
National Kidney Registry (NKR) – Registry that outlines the process of donating through NKR.
Liver Organizations
American Liver Foundation (ALF) – Founded by American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) – Organization that focuses on the treatment and prevention of liver disease and provides tools for potential living liver organ donors.
Financial Assistance
American Society of Transplantation (AST) – Organization that offers a financial toolkit that addresses questions on the financial impact of living donation.
National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) – Program that offers financial assistance for non-medical costs associated with living donation. Additional financial resources are also available.
Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) – Federal agency that explains how to find a healthcare provider and lists federal resources and national agencies for those seeking mental health services.
LDC Resources
*The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has approved the sharing of these external resources on the Living Donor Collective website but is not responsible for, nor can it verify, the accuracy of each resource's information.