Standard Voucher
For someone you know
Name a person who will need a transplant soon. If that beneficiary does not use the voucher, you can name up to 5 family members as backup. The voucher never expires.
Voucher Program
Voucher Program — Give Now, Protect Later
Donate today. Give a voucher to a loved one who may need a kidney in the future
The problem it solves
Sometimes you want to donate, but the timing is not right. Or you are not medically compatible with the person you want to help. Or your loved one will need a kidney in 5 or 10 years. The Voucher Program exists so that none of these reasons stop your decision to donate today.
Voucher Program
Three types of vouchers
Family Voucher
Protect your family
Donate as a Good Samaritan and protect up to 5 family members. If any of them ever needs a kidney, they activate their voucher and get prioritized in the NKR. Ideal if you do not have anyone specific in mind today.
Kidney Swap Saver
Save a chain
When a swap is about to break because a recipient gets sick, the paired donor donates anyway. The sick recipient is prioritized for a future swap. Prevents a single failure from breaking an entire chain.
Chain 357 — The longest kidney transplant chain in the world
Between January and March 2015, 35 people received a kidney transplant. 70 surgeries. 25 centers coordinated. A single altruistic donor at the start of the chain made it possible.
35
transplants in a single chain (Guinness World Record)
New York Times coverage: "60 Lives, 30 Kidneys, All Linked"
Voucher Program
How the Voucher works
1. You donate now
A living donor kidney is registered with the NKR.
2. A voucher is created
A voucher is issued for a named loved one or family member.
3. They redeem it later
If they ever need a kidney, the voucher grants top priority. Never expires.
Kelly Haefs donated to a neighbor and activated a voucher for her family