Donor Families

Welcome to the online home for donor families. You can find support here as well as learn about other resources to help on your journey. You can reach us at donorfamily@kidney.org or 800.622.9010. We'd love to hear from you!

Who are Donor Families?

  • Families whose loved ones died and donated their organs, tissues, or both;
  • Families that would have liked to donate, but couldn't due to medical or other reasons;
  • Families that did not donate, but might have, had they been given the opportunity.

Our History
What has NKF been working on for donor families and potential donor families?

Bereavement, Support and Advocacy includes national organizations dealing with particular types of bereavement, such as sibling grief, the death of a spouse, violent death and more.

Donation and Transplantation highlights information about organ, tissue and eyes organizations, transplant recipients and other groups directly involved with the donation process.

For Those Who Give and Grieve Newsletter includes stories from other families and recipients, tributes to our loved ones, and articles about coping.

NDFC Policies about tissue donation, communication with transplant recipients and more.

NDFC Publications related to death and donation. NDFC publications are periodically updated and reprinted to ensure that donor families receive the most accurate, up-to-date information possible. All council publications are written by and for donor families.

Other Helpful Publications
As we grieve the death of our loved ones, some of us have taken comfort in reading. Donor family volunteers have compiled a list of recommended books based on topics such as bereaved parents, helping children and teens grieve, suicide, general bereavement and more.

The National Donor Family Quilt
View Patches of Love and learn how to make your own Quilt square.

National Donor Recognition Ceremony and Workshop (NDRCW)

A biennial event held by the Federal government in odd-numbered years in the Nation's capital. The NDRCW pays tribute to all Americans who have donated organs, tissue or marrow to save or enhance the lives of others.

The National Donor Family Council

The National Kidney Foundation founded the National Donor Family Council (NDFC) in 1992 as a home for donor families. With over 12,000 donor family and professional members, the Council is the largest organized group of donor families in the world, representing donors of all organs and tissues (not just kidney). With the help of the National Kidney Foundation, The NDFC supports the needs and expectations of donor families and assists the healthcare professionals who work most closely with these families. The Council works collaboratively with organizations in the transplant, bereavement, and professional communities. Through dedicated service to the families of those who gave the gift of life, the NDFC provides a strong, unified voice in meeting donor family needs and providing a safe haven as they learn to live without the ones they love.

Our Mission

  • To enhance the sensitivity and effectiveness of the organ and tissue procurement process;
  • To provide opportunities for families to grieve and grow;
  • To utilize the unique perspective and experiences of these families to increase organ and tissue donation.

Our Goals

  • To serve as an advocate and provide support;
  • To assess donor families' needs;
  • To develop programs for families and professionals;
  • To develop guidelines for donor family care;
  • To improve and enhance communication;
  • To collaborate to increase donation awareness.

All donor families, health care professionals and friends are invited to join. Membership is free.

Your free membership includes:

  • Toll-free access to the Council for personal, caring answers to your questions and concerns
  • A subscription to For Those Who Give and Grieve, a newsletter for donor families
  • Optional e-mail announcements and updates
  • Access to free donor family publications
  • Advanced notice of donor family events

JOIN

Meet the 2010-2011 National Donor Family Council (NDFC) Executive Committee

The volunteer Executive Committee of the National Donor Family Council (NDFC) is dedicated to providing ongoing support to all organ and tissue donor families. We meet in various cities throughout the year, in conjunction with National Kidney Foundation meetings, to discuss legislation, project and resource development, current donor family issues, local support, special events and more.

The NDFC Executive Committee has changed throughout the years but has always included donor families and grief and donation experts, as well as educators, clergy, authors, transplant recipients, scientists, researchers, ethicists and physicians. Please take a moment to get to know us!