A new name is added to the national transplant waiting list every 12 minutes, and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ. By making the decision to become a designated organ donor, you can give someone the ultimate gift of life.
How to Become an Organ Donor
If you are renewing or applying for your driver’s license or ID card, you can become an organ donor by marking the appropriate box on the application form. If you choose to be shown as an organ donor on the card, you will be required to certify on the application that you have read the donor information provided to you.
If you’re not ready to renew your license, you can become an organ donor at any time by registering online or completing and mailing the Donor and Tissue Registry Form. Once the form is returned to our office, we’ll send you an organ donor sticker to place on your license or ID card.
If you’re under 18 years of age, have a parent complete the Parental Consent Form for organ donor designation.
What if I change my mind and no longer want to be an organ donor?
You can change your decision at any time by:
- Removing the organ donor designation by marking the appropriate box or writing “remove” in the appropriate place on your driver license application; or
- Using the Organ Donor Status Update form to remove your name; or
- Indicating your refusal to be an organ donor in a signed record (if you are physically unable to sign, have a record signed by another individual at your direction and witnessed by at least two adults, one of whom must be a disinterested witness).
Remember to share your decision with your family so they know your wishes. If you have questions, call 1-888-5-DONATE. For questions about eye and tissue donation, please contact LifeSource or Dakota Lions Sight and Health.
How to become a Stem Cell Donor
Every three to four minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with blood cancer. Thousands of patients with blood cancers—like leukemia and lymphoma—and other diseases need a blood stem cell transplant to survive. Most patients don’t have a fully matched donor in their family, which is why they turn to the NMDP RegistrySM in search of an unrelated donor.
Your blood stem cells could be someone’s best hope for a cure. When you swab your cheeks and join the registry, your genetic type will be included in the search process for patients in need of a blood stem cell donor.
Things to know before you join the Stem Cell registry:
- It costs you nothing to join or donate.
- Your privacy and confidentiality are protected.
- You’re committing to donating to any patient in need.
- You may be asked to donate one of two ways:
- About 90% of the time, a person's doctor requests a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation—a non-surgical outpatient procedure similar to donating platelets or plasma.
- About 10% of the time, doctors request marrow—a surgical, outpatient procedure that takes place at a hospital. General or regional anesthesia is always used.
- Click here for more information.
Joining the Registry
To join the NMDP Registry, you need to be:
- Between ages 18-40
- A resident of the U.S. or one of its territories or freely associated states
- Able to meet medical guidelines
| ORGAN DONOR DOCUMENTS |
| Driver License and ID Card Application - English | Organ Donor Registry Form |
| Driver License and ID Card Application - Spanish | Parental Consent Form |
| NMDP Registry Flyer | Organ Donor Status Update form |