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How to Become an Organ Donor

Planning ahead · 4 min read · First published 2005 · Updated November 2026

Two clasped hands, one wearing a hospital wristband
Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

There are four steps:

  1. Learn About Organ Donation
  2. Register as an Organ Donor
  3. Make Your Wishes Known
  4. Talk to Your Family and Friends

Step 1: Learn About Organ Donation

The first step to becoming an organ donor is to make an informed decision. The more you know about organ donation, the easier it will be for you to decide whether it is right for you. Knowing the facts will also help you explain your wishes to your family if they ask.

Organ Donation FAQ Organ Donation section

Here are a few facts that people often wonder about.

  • As of mid-2026, more than 109,000 people in the United States were on the national transplant waiting list, and the government's organ donation site says 12 people die each day waiting for a transplant.
  • There is no age limit. Doctors decide at the time of death whether organs and tissues can be used, so please don't rule yourself out. Very few medical conditions prevent donation.
  • Doctors work to save your life first. Being a donor does not change the care you receive, and donation is considered only after death has been confirmed.
  • The donor's family is not charged for donation, although they may still owe for the care that was given before death.
  • Donation does not prevent an open-casket funeral.
  • Many religious traditions support donation. If you are unsure about your own, ask a leader or elder in your faith community.
  • Living donation, such as giving a kidney, is a separate process. You can learn more at organdonor.gov.

Step 2: Register as an Organ Donor

Years ago, people carried a paper donor card. Today the main step is to sign up in a donor registry. You have a few ways to do it:

  • Go to organdonor.gov and choose your state to find your state's registry.
  • Sign up at RegisterMe.org, the National Donate Life Registry, run by Donate Life America. It describes registration as a binding, legal document of gift, and you can update or remove it at any time.
  • Sign up in person at your local motor vehicle department (DMV) when you get or renew a driver's license or state ID.
  • If you have an iPhone, you can sign up through the Health app.

In most states you can choose which organs and tissues you wish to donate, and you can change your choices later through your registry. You may still carry a paper donor card as a reminder if you wish.

Step 3: Make Your Wishes Known

Registering is the most important step, but there are other ways to put your wishes in writing. Add your wishes about organ and tissue donation to your advance directive or living will, and keep a copy where your family can find it. See Living Wills page. Make sure the health care agent you name knows your wishes, since they may be the person doctors speak with first.

Step 4: Talk to Your Family and Friends

Tell your family about your decision. It helps them carry out your wishes without being caught off guard at a very difficult time. You might start by saying why this matters to you, and ask whether they have questions. If you are a parent or caregiver, you can also talk with your older children. If someone close to you does not agree, listen to their concerns and share what you've learned. Many families find comfort in knowing that their loved one's death helped others.

If someone in your family has died and organ donation is an option, hospital staff will usually speak with the family. If you've registered and shared your wishes, that conversation can be much easier for everyone.

Sources

Written by Words to Comfort

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