Gift of Life

What Gift of Life does

Gift of Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, dedicated to advancing awareness of organ, eye, and tissue donation through education and peer mentorship. The organization operates two flagship programs: Life Savers, a fact-based, non-coercive high school curriculum that has reached more than 500,000 students across 100+ schools in the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas since 2003, reaching roughly 40,000 students annually in 75% of Kansas City metro high schools; and Transplant Mentors, which has matched more than 1,200 transplant candidates with trained recipients who provide emotional support throughout the transplant journey, currently mentoring 100+ patients per year nationwide. Co-founded by Kim Harbur, who remains Director of Education and has served on the OPTN and UNOS boards, the organization also maintains a comprehensive Transplant Resources hub covering grief support, financial assistance, pediatric transplant insight, and living donor education.

The organization operates an event-driven go-to-market rather than a traditional sales motion. Revenue is generated through signature fundraising events (GoSeeDo, Golf Fore Life Isabelle Ellis Memorial Classic, Trivia Night for Transplant Mentor Triumphs, Life Savers Rally), individual donations, planned giving via the Legacy Society, corporate sponsorships from regional healthcare and professional services firms, and foundation grants such as the Mid-America Transplant Foundation partnership. Sponsorship tiers span Bronze through Champion/Ultimate across events, with named healthcare partners including University of Kansas Health System, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Saint Luke's Hospital, Olathe Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. Distribution of programs occurs through direct school presentations (regional Kansas City/St. Louis), one-on-one mentor matching (national), community events, and digital resources on giftdonor.org.

Gift of Life runs on a lean operational footprint of approximately six full-time staff under Executive Director Shara Brice, who joined in 2023 from the Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities. The organization has no proprietary software platform, no public-facing API or mobile application, and no disclosed AI capabilities; its "technology" is the educational curriculum content library and the manual mentor-matching workflow. 2025 program leadership includes a Program Director for Transplant Mentors, a Program Manager for Life Savers, and a Life Savers Educator. Recognition includes the 2025 Spirit of Philanthropy Award (AFPKC) to co-founder Kim Harbur.

Name

Gift of Life

Legal name

Gift of Life, Inc.

Website

https://giftdonor.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gift of Life is a Kansas City-area 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 that advances organ, eye, and tissue donation awareness through the Life Savers high school education program (500,000+ students reached since 2003) and the Transplant Mentors peer support program (1,200+ patient matches), funded via events, sponsorships, and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organ Donation Awareness and Transplant Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations (BPAGACAJ)

Keywords

• Organ donation education
• Tissue donation awareness
• Transplant mentorship
• Nonprofit health education
• Donor family support

Headquarters

HQ city

Overland Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Fundraising Campaigns: Annual fundraising campaigns including Give To Live (raised over $211,000 in 2021) and GoSeeDo events that feature venue tours, auctions, and sponsorship opportunities at various levels
2. Event Revenue: Revenue from signature events including GoSeeDo, Golf Fore Life Isabelle Ellis Memorial Classic, and Trivia Night for Transplant Mentor Triumphs, with various sponsorship levels from Bronze to Ultimate
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Support from community partners including Mid-America Transplant Foundation (funding for St. Louis Life Savers program), and corporate sponsors at various levels
4. Individual Donations: Individual contributions through direct donations, Legacy Society planned giving, and tribute gifts in honor or memory of loved ones

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Gift of Life is a Kansas City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that educates high school students about organ, eye, and tissue donation through its Life Savers program and pairs transplant patients awaiting surgery with trained mentor recipients through its Transplant Mentors program. The organization delivers these educational and peer-support services free of charge and funds them via donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and signature fundraising events (GoSeeDo, Golf Fore Life, Trivia Night, Life Savers Rally).

Product overview

Gift of Life is a Kansas City-based nonprofit organization (not a technology product company) that operates educational and support programs focused on organ, eye, and tissue donation. The organization's core offerings include the Life Savers Program for high school education, the Transplant Mentors Program for patient support, and various fundraising events (GoSeeDo, Golf Fore Life, Trivia Night, Life Savers Rally). It also provides transplant resources, a Legacy Society for planned giving, and a platform for transplant stories. The organization does not offer a software product or technology platform with integrations, APIs, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Life Savers: High school education program teaching organ, eye, and tissue donation awareness
• Transplant Mentors
• GoSeeDo
• Golf Fore Life
• Legacy Society
• Young Professionals Circle

Products and services

• Life Savers Program Fact-based, non-coercive high school educational program teaching students about organ, eye, and tissue donation; reaches more than 40,000 individuals annually across 75% of Kansas City metro area high schools.
• Learn Life Savers Teacher-guided classroom lesson resources and tools for organ donation instruction, including Share Your Decision forms, opt-out forms, and supporting educational materials for schools.
• Transplant Mentors Program Peer mentorship program that pairs transplant patients awaiting surgery with trained transplant recipients who have walked a similar path, providing emotional support and practical guidance throughout the transplant journey via phone, text, video calls, and in-person meetings nationwide.
• GoSeeDo Event Annual signature fundraising event featuring exclusive tours of Kansas City venues, auctions, and an inspiring program celebrating transplant recipients and donor families.
• Golf Fore Life Tournament Annual golf tournament (Isabelle Ellis Memorial Classic) honoring a young girl who passed away waiting for a heart transplant, raising funds for the organization's mission.
• Trivia Night for Transplant Mentor Triumphs Annual trivia night event benefiting the Transplant Mentors Program, featuring eight rounds of trivia, raffle items, and games.
• Life Savers Rally Annual high school student rally featuring inspirational stories from transplant recipients, donor families, and medical professionals to educate about organ donation.
• Legacy Society Planned giving society for donors who include Gift of Life in their will or other planned giving vehicle, providing planned giving support and recognition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,955 organ transplants coordinated in 2025, setting national record for any OPO in U.S. history
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• University of Kansas Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Major healthcare partner and Champion-level sponsor ($2,500) of GoSeeDo 2025. Leading transplant hospital in Kansas City region that has helped achieve some of the nation's highest donation and conversion rates.
• Children's Mercy Kansas CitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Pediatric transplant hospital partner and Supporter-level sponsor ($1,250) of GoSeeDo 2025. Home to transplant programs including the Brendan Tripp Elam Transplant Center.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas CitycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Contributor-level sponsor ($2,500) of GoSeeDo 2025 and provider of free parking for GoSeeDo 2026 event. Major healthcare insurance partner supporting organ donation awareness.
• Mid-America Transplant FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Primary funding partner for St. Louis Life Savers program, providing critical support for organ donation education expansion into metro St. Louis area. Mid-America Transplant Foundation's funding enabled the program to reach nearly 100 presentations across the region.
• Olathe Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner and sponsor of Golf Fore Life events. Olathe Health system supports Gift of Life mission through event sponsorship and community involvement.
• Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEagle sponsor ($6,000) of Golf Fore Life 2023 and community partner. Major transplant hospital partner in Kansas City region.
• Eurofins ViracorkeyGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor ($1,500) of Trivia Night 2025 and community partner for golf events. Healthcare testing laboratory supporting transplant community.
• The LAM FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient advocacy organization for LAM (lymphangioleiomyomatosis) that maintains an email database connecting patients, some of whom receive lung transplants. Gift of Life mentor Marla Hamlin connects with patients through this network.
• Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.keyGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor ($1,500) of Trivia Night 2025. Pharmaceutical company serving the transplant medication space.
• Academy BankkeyGTM or Marketing PartnerUnderwriting sponsor for Trivia Night 2025. Financial institution supporting Gift of Life events and mission.
• Falcon Lakes Golf ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGolf venue host for Golf Fore Life 2023, 2024, and 2025 events. Located in Basehor, KS at 4605 Clubhouse Dr.
• Rensen House of LightskeyGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion-level sponsor ($10,000) of GoSeeDo 2025. Long-term community partner and supporter of Gift of Life events.
• Forvis MazarskeyGTM or Marketing PartnerContributor-level sponsor ($2,500) of GoSeeDo 2025 and community partner for golf events. Professional services firm supporting transplant community.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• LifeNet Health: Large nonprofit organ procurement organization and tissue banking network. Operates a much broader portfolio (recovery, processing, distribution) but shares the donation awareness and community education mission at a national scale.
• National Kidney Foundation: Large national health nonprofit with significant kidney disease and kidney transplant education, patient support, and fundraising activity. Overlaps with Gift of Life's transplant-patient mentoring and kidney-transplant awareness focus, but at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Donate Life America: National 501(c)(3) that leads organ, eye, and tissue donation awareness campaigns and the Donate Life brand. Directly comparable in mission and educational outreach, though operating at national rather than regional scale.
• American Transplant Foundation: National nonprofit focused on reducing the organ donor shortage through patient support, living donor protection, and education. Comparable peer-support and awareness mission to Gift of Life's Transplant Mentors and Life Savers programs.
• Mid-America Transplant: St. Louis-based OPO and foundation that funds Gift of Life's St. Louis Life Savers expansion. Operates a similar organ donation education, family support, and community outreach mission and is a direct peer in donor awareness programming.
• Transplant Life Foundation: National nonprofit supporting transplant recipients, living donors, and donor families through education, peer mentorship, and advocacy programs. Directly comparable peer-mentorship and patient-support model to Gift of Life's Transplant Mentors.
• Gift of Life Donor Program (Philadelphia): Federally designated OPO covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware. Holds the national record cited in Gift of Life's data; comparable organ donation mission despite serving a different geography and being a distinct legal entity.

Regional players

• LifeSource: Upper Midwest OPO serving Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Wisconsin. Comparable organ donation education, donor family support, and community awareness model in a different regional market.
• New England Donor Services: OPO serving all six New England states with a mission centered on organ and tissue donation education and donor family services. Directly comparable in program design, with regional rather than overlapping geographic scope.
• CORE (Center for Organ Recovery & Education): OPO serving western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and upstate New York. Comparable in organ procurement awareness, donor education, and community-based outreach but operating in a different geographic territory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/giftoflifekc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GiftoflifeKC1
• Facebookfacebook.com/giftoflifekc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gift of Life