Organ Donation in North Carolina

If you're a resident of North Carolina and would like to become an organ donor, you will need to register with Donate Life North Carolina.

Did you know there are approximately 3,000 people in North Carolina on the organ donor waiting list? The need for organ donors is especially great in minority populations, as organ donations between people of the same race or ethnic group are more successful. By signing up as an organ donor in North Carolina, you can give hope to many people in need.

Continue reading this page to find out exactly how to register.

The Facts About Organ Donation

According to the U.S. government's Organ Donor website, there are hundreds of thousands of people waiting for organ transplants.
Each day, an average 17 people die each day waiting for transplants that won't happen because there is a shortage of organs.
There are many myths surrounding organ donation. You can get the facts by visiting our page about Organ Donation Myths or North Carolina's organ procurement organization, Carolina Donor Services.
There is no age limit on donating organs; donation is determined according to medical suitability and physical condition.
There isn't any cost to you or your family if you choose to donate.

For more details, you can read our page about Organ Donation Facts.

Register as an Organ Donor in North Carolina

If you're 16 years old or older, you can sign up for the organ donor registry in North Carolina. If you are under 18 years old, your parent or guardian will have the final say in whether you can be a donor. There is no upper age limit to become an organ donor. Suitability for organ donation depends much more on your general state of health.

It's important to discuss your wishes with your family so there is no confusion. Then family members will not have to make the decision at the time of your death, and your preference to donate or not to donate will be carried out.

NOTE: You will need to provide your driver's license or state ID card number when registering as an organ donor in North Carolina.

Online

You can register as an organ donor online by:

Visiting the Donate Life North Carolina website.
Signing up with ORGANIZE.org to register in NC and have your information added to their nationwide central database.

In Person

If you choose to donate, you can request that a heart be placed on your North Carolina driver's license at any driver's license office.

You can also print out and carry a donor card, which is a legal document when signed and witnessed.

What Happens Next

It does not cost anything to register as an organ donor, nor will your estate be charged for any tests or procedures associated with organ donation. All costs for organ donation are covered by the state's organ procurement organization.

After brain death, doctors will do tests to determine whether you are a suitable organ donor. They will contact Donate Life North Carolina to find out if you are on the organ donor registry.

Update Your NC Organ Donor Information

To update or change your organ donor profile online, you will need to visit the Donate Life North Carolina website.

If you registered at the North Carolina DMV, you will use your driver's license number and date of birth to access your record.

Other Ways to Help With Organ Donation

You can support organ donation in North Carolina in a variety of ways, such as:

Giving a financial contribution to Donate Life North Carolina to help with public education efforts. You can donate online with a credit card or by mailing a check to:
- Donate Life North Carolina
- P.O. Box 5536
- Durham, NC 27717
Finding out if your workplace makes matching donations; your human resources department should be able to tell you whether your workplace participates in the Matching Gifts Program.
Raising funds by shopping through Donate Life North Carolina's Amazon Smile link .
Being a volunteer to help with administrative work, staff booths at health fairs, and talk to students in driver's education classes. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities online.
Becoming a living donor. Lobes of organs can be used for lung transplant and liver transplant operations. You can also donate a single organ for kidney transplants. Most people who giving living organ donations donate to a family member, but, many people also opt for altruistic donation.
Encouraging your friends and family to register as organ donors.