If you have two healthy kidneys, you may be able to donate one to improve or even save someone else's life.
How do I donate a kidney?
Do you know someone who needs a transplant?
If you want to donate to someone you know, such as a family member, friend, or someone in your community, your first step is to contact the transplant hospital where they’re waiting for a transplant.
Becoming a Living Donor
Learn everything you need to know about donating a kidney in this free, self-paced online program.
Take the Next Step
You can find more about your options through these organizations:
See If You’re Qualified
Becoming a voucher donor through a National Kidney Registry partnering transplant center can qualify you for reimbursement of lost wages and travel expenses related to your donation. Voucher donation prioritizes you, and one of your chosen voucher holders, for a living donor kidney in the unlikely event you, or they, ever need a kidney transplant.
Find a Transplant Center
To ask about being a living donor, you can also contact a transplant center in your area. To find a list of all transplant centers in the U.S., visit the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) website. Then follow these steps:
- Select "Transplant Centers by Organ" under Member Type
- Select "Kidney" for Organ Type
- Select your state or region
Whether you have someone in mind to donate to or not, your next step is to contact a transplant center to start your evaluation.
Remember that this process takes time, and you can be evaluated to donate at more than one center. Every center is different, but your health is the top priority at each one.