The first thing to know is that hospitals that perform kidney transplants (transplant centers) do full evaluations for people who want to donate a kidney, at no cost to the donor, to see if they can donate.
Additional Benefits
You may be able to receive additional living donor protections and benefits by registering with the National Kidney Registry (NKR) or the Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation (APKD).
Kimleigh: PSA & Interview
Kimleigh gave her cousin the gift of life by donating a kidney—an experience that transformed her forever.
David: PSA & Interview
David is an altruistic kidney donor, grateful knowing his gift has given someone a better life.
Maribel: PSA (español) & Interview
Maribel donated a kidney to her father. She is happy to see him thriving, untethered to a dialysis machine.
A Crew With a Cause
Watch Melissa's Story
Melissa, a kidney patient and a filmmaker, volunteered her time and skills to create the “Living Donor!” PSA campaign to help others understand the life-changing impact of living organ donation. She’s making it easier to talk about this topic by bringing humor into the campaign—something she is known for in her other work.
Watch Philip's Story
When Philip heard about Melissa’s project, he immediately volunteered to lend a hand with production design. He knows the impact of living kidney donation firsthand—his dad, Richard, was a three-time kidney transplant recipient.
More Resources
Check out information on NKF’s website to help you make the decision to donate.
Learn more about the steps to become a living donor.
If you’d like help finding a transplant center or have questions, contact NKF CARES.