What is living kidney donation?
One Kidney. Two lives changed.
Living kidney donation is when a healthy person voluntarily donates one of their two kidneys to someone in need of a transplant. The human body functions perfectly well with one kidney — donors live full, healthy lives after donation.
Right now, over 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for a kidney transplant. The average wait time is 3–5 years. Living donation is the best solution — transplants from living donors last longer, work better, and can happen faster than transplants from deceased donors.
Many living donors describe donation as one of the most meaningful things they've ever done — a decision that changed their life just as much as it changed someone else's.
Common Questions
Questions you're probably already asking.
01
Would I qualify to donate?
Most healthy adults between 18 and 60 can be evaluated as potential donors. The evaluation process is thorough by design — transplant centers will never approve a donation if there is any medical concern about your long-term wellbeing. Your health comes first, always.
02
What does the surgery actually involve?
Living donor surgery is typically performed laparoscopically — minimally invasive, with most donors returning home within 2–3 days and back to normal activity within 6 weeks. Donation is considered very safe, and donors are medically evaluated extensively before any decision is made.
03
Will donating affect my long-term health?
Studies show that living kidney donors live just as long and just as healthily as non-donors. Your remaining kidney adapts and takes on the full workload over time. Donors are monitored long-term and supported throughout the process.
04
Do I need to know someone who needs a kidney to donate?
No. You can donate to a stranger and save a life — sometimes triggering a chain of donations that saves multiple lives at once. Through programs like the National Kidney Registry, donating to a stranger allows your kidney to be given to it's perfect match.
05
Will it cost me anything?
The recipient's insurance covers the cost of the surgery. There are also programs also cover lost wages, travel, and lodging for donors. You will not pay anything out of pocket for any medical test or process associated with donating..
Not ready to decide? That's okay.
The best next step isn't filling out a form. It's coming to listen.
A Kidney Convo is a free, 90-minute virtual event built specifically for people like you — curious, but not yet sure. You'll hear live stories from real donors and recipients, and watch four short films drawn from over 100 interviews with people who started exactly where you are and chose to take the next step. You'll also come away with a clear understanding of why living donation matters, who you can help, and what the process actually looks like.
Attending a Kidney Convo is not a commitment to donate. It's simply a chance to get your questions answered by people who have lived it.
What people are saying
Don't take our word for it.
"I've learned more in the last 90 minutes than I have in over 4 years on dialysis."
Athena- Patient
Colorado Spring, CO
"Impactful and emotionally engaging, yet approachable and easy to understand for viewers of all backgrounds."
Kelly McBrayer, UCHealth Living Donor Coordinator
"It should be the standard of care and made available to every kidney patient and their family."
Emily Polet-Montessro, Executive Director, NKDO