Additional Resources

Printable NLDAC brochure (English)

Printable NLDAC brochure (español)

NLDAC poster (English)

NLDAC poster (español)

Introductory video – a brief introduction to NLDAC for transplant centers to share with donor and recipient candidates

Education

UNOS Transplant Living – In-depth information about becoming a living donor, including which organs can be donated, types of living donation, talking about living donation, the operation, the transplant team, financing living donation and frequently asked questions.

American Society of Transplantation’s Live Donor Toolkit – Guide for living donors, including financial resources available to assist in the donation process.

American Transplant Foundation 1+1 Mentorship Program - Provides a free, support service to those on the transplant wait list, living donors, transplant recipients, and caretakers. 

American Society of Transplant Surgeons – Patient education videos describing the process of becoming a living kidney or liver donor.

National Kidney Foundation's Becoming a Living Donor & The Big Ask, The Big Give – Patient education on starting a conversation about living kidney donation, whether you need a kidney or are considering donation.

Live Donor Champion Program – Training program for wait-listed patients and their support person (“champion”) to initiate conversations and spread awareness about renal failure and live donation.

American Liver Foundation - Promoting education, advocacy, support services and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease. 

BA Hero – Focuses on connecting, assisting, and empowering the global biliary atresia community through programs, education, and advocacy while enriching their lives and inspiring hope. They serve the BA community through financial education, help with funeral expenses, BA educational information, and a variety of other programs to make this difficult journey a little easier.

Explore Transplant – Educational programs for transplant patients and living donors to make informed treatment choices.

Organdonor.gov – Public information about organ donation and transplantation.

United Network for Organ Sharing – Public information about organ donation and transplantation.

OPTN Member Directory – A  list of transplant centers and their phone numbers. To search for transplant centers near you, on step 1, select "Transplant Centers." On step 2, select "Active." Then select your state and click "Go."

Consensus Statement of the Amsterdam Forum - A statement from the ethics committee of the Transplantation Society on the care of living kidney donors.

Ethics Statement of the Vancouver Forum - A statement of the ethics committee of the Transplantation Society of the care of living lung, liver, pancreas, and intestine donors.

Financial Assistance

American Living Organ Donor Fund – Nonprofit organization that provides advice on where to get financial help, and a grant program to help living organ donors once all other sources of assistance have been exhausted.

Kid-U-Not - A non-profit organization helping living donors with non-medical expenses caused by the donation, including lost wages.

Transplant Recipient International Organization – Nonprofit organization providing support for living donors and organ recipients using United Airlines’ Charity Miles program.

American Transplant Foundation – Nonprofit organization that offers critical financial assistance specifically for living donors in Colorado. In addition, the organization provides other types of support (education, peer support, etc.) that are available to individuals beyond Colorado.

Georgia Transplant Foundation – Provides support for lost wages if the donor or recipient lives in the state of Georgia.

Iowa Anatomical Gift Public Awareness and Transplantation Fund – Provides support for out-of-pocket costs incurred by living donors and recipients who live in Iowa.

Healthcare Hospitality Network – A network of nonprofit organizations that provide lodging and support services to patients, families and their loved ones who are receiving medical treatment far from their home communities.

Angel Flight - Regional groups of volunteer pilots offering free flights to people who need to travel for medical reasons. On Angel Flight's website, scroll down to chose your state and find your local chapter.

American Kidney Fund - Financial assistance for kidney patients, including help paying insurance premiums, safety net grants, disaster relief grants, and prescription drug resources.

UnitedHealthcare Kidney Donor Travel Assistance (KDTA) Program – Living kidney donors whose recipients are fully insured by a UnitedHealthcare commercial health plan may apply for up to $6,000 for travel expenses. Donors and recipients can complete the NLDAC application worksheets and ask their transplant professional to submit the application to UnitedHealthcare on the NLDAC website. The recipient's insurance card must say "Underwritten by UnitedHealthcare." To confirm eligibility, email uhcdonortravel@optum.com.

State Legislation – Many states have passed laws that make it easier to become a living donor by providing time off for state and/or private sector employees. This link has a state-by-state listing of legislation.

Other Resources

Project Donor - Nonprofit organization helping prospective organ donors achieve donation eligibility through free weight loss and smoking cessation resources, in addition to dedicated emotional support.

Help Hope Live – Nonprofit organization to support community-based fundraising for people with unmet medical and related expenses due to cell and organ transplants, living donors or catastrophic injuries and illnesses.

Authorizing Legislation

National Organ Transplant Act: Public Law 98-507 – Federal law passed in 1984 which established the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, organ procurement organizations, the scientific registry, and the prohibition of organ purchases.

Organ Donation Recovery and Improvement Act: Public Law 108-216 – Federal law passed in 2004 which authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to reimburse living organ donors’ travel and nonmedical expenses, establish public education programs to increase awareness about organ donation, and to develop scientific evidence supporting increased organ donation.

Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses Toward Living Organ Donation Eligibility Guidelines: June 19, 2009 – Federal guidelines published in 2009 that define criteria for donor reimbursement, qualifying expenses, the number of prospective donors per recipient, and special provisions. In 2020, these eligibility guidelines were replaced by the current eligibility guidelines, listed below.

Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health – This excutive order instructed the Secretary of HHS to allow reimbursement of donors' lost wages and dependent care expenses with federal funding.

Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program Eligibility Guidelines As Amended - In response to public comments from the transplant community, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) amended the eligibility guidelines for this program. This document includes HRSA's responses to the comments received, and defines the current criteria for reimbursement, qualifying expenses, the number of prospective donors per recipient, and special provisions.