Kidney Donors 

Why Donate

Living kidney donation is one of the most profound ways to put faith into action. Across many traditions, the call to “love your neighbor” or “save a life” is a cornerstone of spiritual and communal practice.

What to Expect

Becoming a donor isn’t a process you go through alone. From the moment you express interest, you are supported by a dedicated transplant team. The process generally takes shape in three steps: 

  • The Evaluation: You’ll undergo a series of comprehensive health screenings, including blood work, imaging, and physical exams, to ensure that donation is safe for you.

  • The Procedure: The surgery is typically performed laparoscopically (using small incisions), which minimizes pain and scarring and speeds recovery. Most donors remain in the hospital under supervision for 1-3 days following the procedure.

  • The Recovery: Most donors are back to their normal routines in 2-4 weeks. Your remaining kidney will naturally increase its function to take on the work previously shared by two kidneys.

Is it safe?

Yes, living kidney donation is safe.

Most people are born with two kidneys but only need one to live a full, healthy life. Long-term studies show that kidney donors live just as long as non-donors.

While all surgeries carry risk, complications in kidney donation are rare. Kidney donors have a small chance of developing new health issues, including slightly higher blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney failure. If there is any significant risk to your long-term well-being, you will not be cleared by medical professionals to donate.

All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor and transplant team.

How Kidney Donation Works

  • Kidney Paired Exchange

    If you're willing to donate but you're not a match for your intended recipient, you don't have to stop there. You can donate to a stranger whose donor is a match for your intended recipient, and they receive the kidney they need from that donor— a kidney “swap.”

  • Direct Donation

    You give your kidney directly to someone you know—a family member, a friend, a fellow congregant. This is the most familiar form of living donation, a direct act of love from one person to another.

  • Non-Directed Donation

    You choose to donate a kidney to whoever needs it most, without specifying a recipient.

Where to connect to begin the screening process

To Save One Life is an educational campaign. While we do not conduct screenings ourselves, we recommend you start by talking to your primary care physician and then continue the process through one of these reputable organizations:

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