Irish Kidney Association

What Irish Kidney Association does

The Irish Kidney Association (IKA), legally Irish Kidney Association CLG, is a registered national charitable voluntary organisation founded in 1978 and headquartered at Donor House, Block 43A, Park West, Dublin 12 (D12 P5V6). It is a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) — the Irish legal form for non-profits — governed by a board, led by patients and their families, and operating with 11–50 staff and a national network of 25 local branches. Its mission is to support people in Ireland living with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and to promote organ donation.

The organisation delivers a coordinated portfolio of free patient services addressing the medical, social, economic, and psychological dimensions of kidney disease: patient support, support centres with accommodation near hospitals (including the National Kidney Support Centre at Beaumont Hospital, currently being renovated for 2026 reopening), patient holidays, counselling, peer support (delivered by trained volunteers with lived experience), and the Living Well self-management programme (online, six sessions). On the organ donation side, IKA administers the long-standing Organ Donor Card (physical and digital, including Apple/Google Wallet), coordinates Organ Donor Awareness Week (16–23 May) and World Kidney Day (7 March), operates the annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving, and runs digital tribute platforms (Tree of Hope, Forget-Me-Not Garden).

Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the IKA is funded entirely through public donations, legacies and bequests, membership fees, tax-efficient giving (CHY3 scheme), corporate partnerships, fundraising events (Dublin Marathon, VHI Women's Mini Marathon), retail-store collections at ALDI and Dunnes Stores, and merchandise sales via an online shop. Strategic partnerships anchor its operating model — notably with HSE, ODTI, the Department of Health, the Irish Nephrology Society, An Post, the Irish Pharmacy Union, and local authorities — and its work is set against a national backdrop where 2,617 adults were on dialysis at end-2025 and over €300M/year is spent by the HSE on dialysis treatment.

Name

Irish Kidney Association

Legal name

Irish Kidney Association CLG

Website

https://ika.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Irish Kidney Association (founded 1978) is a national Irish charity providing free patient support services — including counselling, peer support, accommodation, and self-management programmes — for people living with end-stage kidney disease, while promoting organ donation through its donor card programme and national awareness campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Kidney Patient Support and Organ Donation Charity Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations (BPAGACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Kidney patient support
• Organ donation advocacy
• Chronic illness charity
• Patient counselling services
• Community branch network

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization relies on public donations and contributions to fund vital services for kidney patients and their families. Donations can be made online, via the website, through fundraising events, or by post.
2. Fundraising Events: Revenue is generated through organized fundraising events including Dublin Marathon, VHI Women's Mini Marathon, World Kidney Day collections, and various community fundraisers. Corporate sponsors also support these events.
3. Membership Fees: The organization offers membership options where members receive full access to free patient services, connection through local branches, email updates, and the SUPPORT magazine.
4. Tax-Efficient Giving (CHY3): Tax back on donations of €250 or more can be claimed through Revenue's CHY3 certificate system, allowing the charity to claim an extra 45% in tax back on qualifying donations.
5. Legacies and Bequests: Free will-writing services for those aged 53 and older, with the option to include legacy gifts to support the organization's work.
6. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate giving programs where companies contribute money, time, skills, or other resources. Also includes payroll giving schemes for employees.
7. Online Shop: Sale of merchandise including IKA merchandise (face masks, t-shirts) and the Truly Tasty Cookbook for renal patients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The Irish Kidney Association is a national voluntary charity that supports kidney patients and their families through counselling, financial aid, patient advocacy, and holiday/dialysis support services. It promotes organ donation awareness across Ireland and works alongside transplant teams to coordinate donor card distribution and public education. Services are delivered through 25 nationwide branches and a Dublin head office, funded primarily by donations and fundraising.

Product overview

The Irish Kidney Association is a national charitable organization (founded 1978) providing a coordinated portfolio of patient support services for people with end-stage kidney disease. The core offerings include patient support, support centres with accommodation, patient holidays, counselling, and peer support services. The organization also promotes organ donation through its Organ Donor Card programme (physical and digital), awareness campaigns (Organ Donor Awareness Week, World Kidney Day), and fundraising events (Dublin Marathon, VHI Women's Mini Marathon). Additional services include SUPPORT magazine, the Tree of Hope and Forget-Me-Not Garden tribute platforms, and an online shop selling merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Kidney Centre: A support facility for kidney patients and families providing free accommodation near hospitals for treatment. Currently undergoing renovation at Beaumont Hospital.

Products and services

• Kidney Patient Support Services
• Organ Donor Card and Donor Awareness Programme
• Holiday and Dialysis Support Programme
• Fundraising Events and Community Campaigns
• Charity Merchandise

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,617 adults receiving dialysis treatment in Ireland supported by IKA services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• HSE Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IKA collaborates with the HSE's Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI), the national service overseeing organ donation and transplantation in Ireland. ODTI supports Organ Donor Awareness Week and shares transplantation statistics and impact data. The partnership is central to Ireland's organ donation system and the Human Tissue Act implementation.
• An PostcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAn Post supports Organ Donor Awareness Week by displaying posters and organ donor cards in post office branches around the country. Pick up yours on your next visit! An Post's nationwide branch network enables broad distribution of donor cards and awareness materials.
• Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Irish Pharmacy Union supports Organ Donor Awareness Week, with community pharmacies displaying materials and distributing organ donor cards. IPU also supports World Kidney Day campaigns and hosts the National Pharmacy Conference as a campaign partner.
• Libraries IrelandsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLibraries Ireland participates in Organ Donor Awareness Week by making organ donation information available across public library locations nationwide, supporting awareness and education efforts.
• Dublin City CouncilsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerDublin City Council supports Organ Donor Awareness Week by illuminating landmarks in green and promoting organ donation awareness across the city. Buildings including the GPO and Dublin City Hall participate in the Light Up in Green initiative.
• Galway City CouncilsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGalway City Council participates in the Light Up in Green initiative for Organ Donor Awareness Week, illuminating landmarks to show solidarity with organ donation awareness efforts.
• HSE (Health Service Executive)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IKA works with the HSE on multiple initiatives including World Kidney Day awareness campaigns, the Human Tissue Act implementation, transplant data reporting, and COVID-19 vaccination guidance for kidney patients. Dr. Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE, participates in IKA campaigns.
• Irish Nephrology SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Irish Nephrology Society has endorsed the IKA's World Kidney Day awareness campaign and participates in Organ Donor Awareness Week events including their Annual Scientific Meeting 2026.
• ALDIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerALDI supports World Kidney Day by enabling volunteer collections in stores nationwide. Branch-led volunteers collect donations in ALDI stores across the country on the Saturday of World Kidney Day week, supporting the IKA's national fundraising efforts.
• Dunnes StorescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDunnes Stores partners with the IKA for World Kidney Day fundraising collections, with volunteers collecting donations in stores across Ireland on the national fundraising day.
• National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IKA supports and advocates for the Potential Donor Audit Development Project commissioned by Organ Donation Transplant Ireland and conducted by NOCA to appraise the need for a national clinical audit of organ donation practices.
• Road Safety AuthoritysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Road Safety Authority revealed that almost 1.65 million people have indicated willingness to become organ donors when applying for their licence, represented by code 115. This partnership enables donor registration through driver's licence applications.
• B. BraunsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerB. Braun and the IKA co-produced a 6-part webinar series sharing insights on kidney disease, covering topics including kidney disease, treatment options including shared care, medications, diet, and related health aspects.
• Various Pharmacy Chains (Haven, Meaghers, Pure, Life)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual pharmacy chains including Haven Pharmacies, Meaghers Pharmacy, Pure Pharmacy, and Life Pharmacy support organ donation awareness through their community locations, displaying materials and distributing donor cards.
• Irish Pharmacy Union and Pharmacy ChainscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe IKA's World Kidney Day awareness campaign has the endorsement and active support of the Irish Pharmacy Union and various pharmacy chains at the heart of communities across Ireland, amplifying awareness messaging.
• Government Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IKA collaborates with the Department of Health on organ donation policy, including implementation of the Human Tissue Act 2024. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD attended the 2026 Organ Donor Awareness Week launch.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kidney Care UK: UK national kidney patient charity offering patient grants, counselling, advocacy, and awareness. Closest functional analogue to the IKA in a closely neighbouring market with similar public health system context.
• National Kidney Foundation: The largest US kidney disease charity, providing patient services, organ donation advocacy, and public education. Directly comparable to the IKA in mission, services (peer support, counselling, awareness campaigns), and patient-led ethos, with a much larger geographic scope.
• Kidney Research UK: UK charity funding kidney disease research and patient support. Adjacent peer with overlapping patient population and awareness-campaign activities, but with a stronger research-funding emphasis than the IKA.
• American Kidney Fund: US nonprofit providing direct financial assistance, education, and advocacy for kidney patients. Comparable in donation-funded model and patient-support orientation, with a focus on financial grants that complements the IKA's counselling/holiday model.
• British Kidney Patient Association: UK charity providing financial grants, holidays, and support services to kidney patients. Mirrors the IKA's combination of grants, patient holidays, and emotional support services for end-stage kidney disease patients.

Regional players

• Organ Donation Scotland: Scotland's national organ donation promotion body, run under NHS Scotland. Closest geographic and structural analogue to the IKA's role as a national donation promoter in a UK/Ireland jurisdiction.
• HSE Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI): The HSE unit overseeing organ donation and transplantation in Ireland. Functions as the IKA's principal public-sector partner and a near-ecosystem peer, jointly driving Organ Donor Awareness Week and managing transplant data.

Others

• Diabetes Ireland: Irish national charity addressing a chronic disease with strong overlap in at-risk patient population (diabetes is a major CKD risk factor). Comparable donation model and patient-support orientation within the Irish chronic-disease charity ecosystem.
• Irish Cancer Society: Ireland's largest national health charity, operating a similar donation-funded model with patient services, awareness campaigns, and corporate partnerships. Useful reference for scale, fundraising infrastructure, and Irish charity-sector benchmarks.
• Cystic Fibrosis Ireland: Irish national charity supporting patients with a chronic disease, with similar grant-giving, advocacy, and community-branch structure. Useful structural peer for benchmarking the IKA's branch network and patient-support services within the Irish charity sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IrishKidneyAssociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Irish Kidney Association