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How Donation Works

From tragedy
comes hope.

Who can donate

Everyone is encouraged to register. Race, age, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, or religion do not prevent donation. If someone is not registered, next-of-kin may provide consent; registering ensures your wishes are fulfilled.

Anyone can register as an organ, eye, or tissue donor — race, age, gender, or religion never limit your ability to give.

When a potential donor passes away, Lifebanc coordinates with hospitals and transplant centers to determine eligibility and facilitate recovery with dignity and precision.

The Process

  1. Identification & Evaluation: Hospitals notify Lifebanc when donation may be possible.
  2. Authorization: Registry confirmation or next-of-kin consent allows donation to proceed.
  3. Matching: A national system (UNOS) identifies recipients based on medical urgency and compatibility.
  4. Recovery & Honor: Surgical teams recover organs and tissues, often pausing for a moment of silence to honor the donor.
  5. Aftercare: Lifebanc coordinates with funeral homes, provides updates, grief support, and opportunities for donor-recipient communication.

Because organ donation requires continuous blood flow, only a small percentage of deaths qualify for donation — making every “yes” profoundly meaningful. Tissue and cornea criteria are less stringent.

In 2024, more than 48,000 organ transplants were performed in the U.S.

REGISTER AS A DONOR

You are almost there!

To complete your donor registration, we need to redirect you to the official Ohio BMV website where you’ll enter some personal information.

It’s secure and takes less than a minute.

Have your driver’s license or state ID card number ready.