Purpose & Mission


ITF mark

Our Mission


The mission of the Illinois Transplant Fund (ITF) is to give people access to life-saving organ transplants and follow-up care to help them live long, healthy and productive lives.

Our Vision


Equitable access to organ transplants

Targeting Health Inequity

The Illinois Transplant Fund was founded in 2015 to increase access to organ transplants by targeting the inequity of health insurance access, helping to eliminate this barrier to life-saving organ transplant surgery. Residents located in ITF’s service area have embraced organ donation as good for their community and are adding their names to the Illinois Secretary of State organ & tissue donor registry. They should also have equitable access to life-saving organ transplants.

Why is health insurance coverage so important?

To be listed on the national organ transplant waiting list, patients must provide proof they can obtain post-transplant medications needed to maintain the transplanted organ and their life. Our immune system sees a transplanted organ as a foreign mass and wants to attack the organ as it would attack any foreign cell. This can cause severe damage and lead to the removal of the transplanted organ. Anti-rejection drugs are a life-long requirement for transplant patients and allow the transplanted organ to remain healthy and free from damage. These vital medications and necessary follow-up care are only available through full health insurance coverage.

We have one Purpose: Saving Lives.

Since its founding in 2015, more than 350 patients receiving support from Illinois Transplant Fund have received life-saving transplants.

*as of May 10, 2022

“After 14 years on dialysis and facing the possibility that I was going to die, I received my kidney transplant. With the financial support of the Illinois Transplant Fund, I can focus on my health. I am no longer on dialysis and my life has taken a great turn for the better. Today, I have the energy and desire to live my life to the fullest and get back to work. What seemed impossible when I was sick and facing death, is now possible thanks to the help of the Illinois Transplant Fund and the generous people who support it.”

Daniel – ITF patient

saving lives

ITF is a not-for-profit organization funded solely through contributions from the general public and interested parties. We want to help as many patients as possible and graciously accept all donations.