Fundraising for Organ Transplantation

Your decision to fund raise may depend on a variety of conditions. Generally, fund raising becomes a consideration when insurance coverage is inadequate for part or all of transplant services. For organ transplantation, areas that may not be covered, or are partially covered by insurance, are organ retrieval, air ambulance, and dental care, room and board for family and spouse, and occasionally outpatient medication. If these conditions exist, fundraising may be considered. One of our transplant financial counselors can give you information regarding your insurance coverage. They are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Central Time) at 402.559.8902.

The level of activity involved may make fundraising difficult for some patients. For this reason, many patients rely on friends and family members to help. If possible, fundraising should be done prior to transplantation. It may be harder to raise funds after the transplant. Establish a committee and elect a chairman. This may enable you to have simultaneous or consecutive fund raising activities for best utilization of time.

If you decide to raise funds for the expense of transplantation, the following will provide suggestions on what to consider if you have Medicare or Medicaid, developing trust funds, publicity, and other fundraising ideas. Nebraska Medicine does not become involved in individual fundraising efforts, but will provide the following general guidelines. Nebraska Medicine also does not endorse any fundraising organizations. We suggest that you investigate any organization that you use.

Fundraising When You Have Medicare or Medicaid

Medicare

1. To be eligible, you must be disabled and on Social Security Disability for 24 months or be over the age of 65.
2. Currently covers liver transplantation for specific diagnostic conditions. Also covers outpatient medications for one year following liver transplantation.
3. For questions about this program, please call the Social Security Administration at 800.772.1213.

Medicaid 

1. Available to families receiving Aid for Dependent Children (ADC) or to anyone receiving Supplementary Security Income (SSI)
2. You may be eligible for SSI if:
   • You are over age 65 with no Social Security income or with an income below the poverty guidelines
   • Your Social Security Disability check is below the poverty guidelines
   • You have been declared medically disabled by the Social Security Administration, but ineligible for Social Security Disability
   • During the interim preceding your approval for Social Security Disability
3. Some state Medicaid programs deny liver transplantation or the transplant facility may not accept Medicaid from certain states. One of our transplant financial counselors can tell you if Medicaid from your state is acceptable for transplantation at this facility.

Trust Funds

There are three main ways to develop trust funds:

1. Utilize national organizations.
2. Utilize your local church or civic organizations. Some organizations not directly related to transplantation may allow use of their trust funds for fund raising purposes.
3. Open your own private trust fund.

Confer with a lawyer for legal guidance. To start your personal fund, contact your local IRS and ask for the application for SS-4. Complete this form first, and then telephone the IRS for a tax ID number (TIN), which can be given to you over the telephone. Be aware that contributions to an individual/family trust fund are considered a gift, and interest accumulated from money in the fund is taxable. Other considerations pertaining to trust fund establishment may include deciding what to do with money that is not used. Discuss this with your lawyer, or with the transplant agency whose trust fund is utilized.

Publicity

Consider using the newspaper, radio and/or television as resources for publicity or for public service announcements. Human-interest stories are attractive to the media. If the response at first is not enthusiastic, be persistent, or use the help of a friend who may have a news media contact.

Consider local media sources, such as suburban or church newsletters or newspapers. Although sometimes expensive, fliers may be useful in a place of employment or in reaching members of a union of other large organization.

If you know someone influential, enlist that person’s help.

Nebraska Medicine’s media team regularly helps pitch stories about patients to television and radio stations as well as newspapers. They can help advise you on how to try and receive publicity on your hometown media channels.

Other Fundraising Ideas

• https://www.gofundme.com/donate-online/ is a useful tool for making it easy to collect donations. you also can point people to your page to learn your full story, so you don't have to repeat it all to them in person.
• Searching on phrases like "Best way to raise money for medical expenses" on Google will provide a wealth of ideas and tips on the mechanics of trying to raise money.
• The Chamber of Commerce should know of businesses that make charitable donations. Contact the president of your local office or have friend who owns a business do so.
• Fundraising may be done where you work. Get permission first or check to see if there is a policy regarding fundraising.
• If you belong to a union, contact the president. Fundraising through the union to which you belong may be beneficial, especially if it has national affiliations.
• Consider your church, clubs, or another organization of which you are a member (e.g. bowling league, a musical group, athletic organization, etc.).
• Enlist the help of a local politician. Your mayor and state representatives are good people to contact. You may need to be persistent or enlist the help of someone who knows the politician you want to contact.
• Schools may be helpful with such activities as car washes, concerts by the school band, or the sports department may agree to a football, basketball or soccer tournament.
• Put donation canisters in your favorite stores. Use a photograph.
• Posters, also with a photo, may also be useful. Get permission to put one up in your local grocery store, shopping mall or any place where a large number of people congregate.
• Have a dance or a party and charge admission. Perhaps the local YMCA will donate space. Other space may be found through a community center or church.
• Have a Bar-B-Que or Pig Roast. These work very well in small communities.
• Try raffling a TV, VCR, vacation, concert tickets, football tickets, etc. Be sure to check your local statutes regarding raffles.
• Have a bake sale. Make it a regularly scheduled event and people will be prepared to buy your baked goods each week or whatever the schedule.  Use posters, the radio and the newspaper to advertise.
• Have a garage sale. Your neighbors can help by making it a block event, which may attract more people. Be sure to use newspapers and the radio to advertise. Posters and fliers also help. Use balloons to make it festive.

These are just a few of the activities you can do to get started. Other ideas may surface after you have begun. Good luck!