Kidneys in Common
It's Put your kidney where your heart is.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Active Kidney Donor Outreach & Education
Active Donor Outreach
When it comes to reducing the wait for kidney transplants, we need more than a "Build It and They Will Come" effort. We need to deliver information to those who would help if they knew.
Active vs. Passive...Why it matters: Today it is not enough to simply have a good cause or an attractive website. Every hour of the day good causes and nice websites go virtually unnoticed, and in the tsunamis of information and rapid news cycles, information that can save someone's life goes unseen. Active outreach and education are essential if we are to reshape the kidney health landscape. Kidneys in Common advocates for social awareness and action through a Community-driven model — mobilizing national Civic, Fraternal, Labor, Veteran and Faith-based organizations to use their existing organizational infrastructure to highlight the need for healthy kidneys, and the impact each member can have in the lives of other fellow members.
Living Kidney Donor Education & Support
Donor First -- One's decision to donate a kidney is often described in terms of a journey. For some, it is easy to keep the destination in focus. For others, the original impulse to help save a life can take shape over a longer, more meandering path. Both paths will get you there: What is important is that one has a clear map and sufficient information to make choices along the way.
When an individual indicates their willingness to step-up and help someone by donating a kidney, the immediate response must include, respect, honesty, information and support. Concerns over money, future care or logistics should never be aloud to overshadow the noble impulse to help save a life...would-be donors should never be punished financially or otherwise because of their intent to do something so important.
Understanding the process for considering kidney donation requires readily available, useable and transparent information.
Community Directed Donation
Community. In many ways, the communities of which we are a part, represent our extended families. We survive and thrive because of our communities. The sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves has always been central to our ways of life. Kidneys In Common is working with your communities to make sure that, when it comes to Kidney disease, community members understand how best to help their own. Your church, your running club, fraternal order, civic club, corporate family or fellow veterans -- these are the communities that make us strong when we need it the most. If 1 in 3 Americans are at risk of confronting kidney disease this year, you can do the math. Someone close to you needs help.
The challenge is to establish the institutions and organizations where we live, work, play and pray as safe, active environments for understanding how kidney disease impacts lives and families. And then, with awareness of how kidney disease challenges fellow members of the community, members can also safely consider how and whether they might help.
Consider that every American opts-in to any number of communities such as civic, fraternal, corporate, athletic, veteran or faith-based. For many such organizations, the wellbeing of their constituents is paramount. Kidneys in Common is engaging the national leadership of these communities in order to create awareness of the kidney crisis, and the potential each community has for solutions.
We survive and thrive because of our communities. The sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves has always been central to our ways of life. When we see communities helping a family or an individual, what we are really witnessing are people helping people. Community is a two-way street: a community can multiply and share only what its members give to it.
Communities are ideally suited to carry the message that people near to you are facing a life-challenge of kidney disease, and offer you the clear opportunity to help.
Equal Access
At Risk...Underserved...What does that mean?
It can mean many things: lack of availability of services, lack of awareness regarding care options or health services, stigma, lack of affordability, lack of community programs, geographic isolation, lack of transportation, cultural barriers, and lack of trust.
But almost always, it means lack of fairness.
Equal Access
Even with proper access to healthcare and a supportive community, it can be difficult to learn of or recognize one's best options when confronting kidney disease. Race and income inequality in the United States pose additional challenges when it comes to healthcare. Studies show that, not only do low income and minority populations often face higher instances of kidney failure, they also tend to be less able to access the proper healthcare and support they need.
African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans are all disproportionately more likely to need a transplant but less likely to be referred to a transplant center. In fact, tens of thousands of patients medically suitable for transplants never make it to the waiting list. The most recent data show that once on the list, African Americans wait 40 percent longer to receive a kidney than whites do, and Hispanic candidates wait 50 percent longer.
Kidneys in Common wants people to know of the need that surrounds them. Kidneys in Common will work with organizations effective within at-risk communities to mobilize awareness of those suffering from kidney disease, while also activating support for those who would consider helping by donating their extra kidney.
Where we work
External reviews
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Kidneys in Common
Board of directorsas of 04/26/2023
Atul Agnihotri
Olivia Suter
Debbie Shearer
Lane D. Williamson
Eastman & Smith, LTD
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes