NKDO End of Year Merchandise Fundraiser: All branded items discounted through December 31!

NKDO - National Kidney Donation Organization
NKDO - National Kidney Donation Organization

Financial Resources for Donors

In addition to the financial support that may be available to you through the National Kidney Registry, the Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation, and/or NLDAC, there are some other sources of financial support available to some prospective donors depending on their unique circumstances. Here are a few to explore:

  • Meredith Haga Foundation
  • American Living Organ Donor Fund
  • David Atkins Living Donor Assistance Fund – for Massachusetts living donors.
  • Georgia Transplant Foundation – for Georgia living donors
  • American Kidney Fund – up to $100 is available for donors
  • Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program – may provide travel support
  • Federal Government Employees receive 30 days of paid leave for organ donation and 7 days for bone marrow donation. This leave is in addition to the employee’s sick and annual leave.
  • State Government Employees – many states offer state employees paid or unpaid leave for being a living organ donor.
  • Some states offer direct reimbursements, tax credits, or tax deductions for donor expenses. Find out how your state measures up by heading to the American Kidney Fund’s Living Donor Protection Report Card.  
  • Some states have temporary disability programs that donors can apply to for coverage of some of their lost wages during their recovery. Most of these programs pay 60 – 90% of the donor’s usual wage and are open to most workers who live in the state, though there are exceptions. The following states offer disability programs that cover lost wages for their residents:
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • District of Columbia
    • Massachusetts
    • Minnesota
    • New Jersey
    • Oregon
    • Rhode Island
    • Washington

  • Some businesses are a part of the AST Living Donor Circle of Excellence, which means that as a part of their employees’ benefits package, they offer paid time off for living donation recovery that is separate from the employee’s standard PTO or sick leave benefit. Ask your employer if they are a part of the AST Living Donor Circle of Excellence to see if you qualify for this benefit. 

  • Transplant centers that are not affiliated with paired exchange entities like the NKR and the APKD may have unique financial support options available to those who donate through their facility. Be sure to ask for information about donor protections from the transplant coordinator at the center through which you are considering donating.

  • Help Hope Live– Offers guided support to help living kidney donors fundraise for medical and living expenses not covered by insurance or other programs. This is a better option than a traditional Peer to Peer fundraiser, because donations are tax deductable, and since the organization manages the flow of funds, there are no tax implications for the beneficiary.