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Donor Network West

EIN 94-3062436 · San Ramon, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DONOR NETWORK WEST IS THE FEDERALLY DESIGNATED ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATION SERVING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NORTHERN NEVADA. THE SERVICE AREA INCLUDES NEARLY 14 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS 100,000 SQUARE MILES. APPROXIMATELY 110,000 PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR LIFESAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANTS IN THE U.S.DONOR NETWORK WEST SAVES AND HEALS LIVES THROUGH ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION FOR TRANSPLANTATION AND RESEARCH. WE FACILITATE THE RECOVERY AND PLACEMENT OF ORGANS AND TISSUES SUCH AS HEARTS, LUNGS, LIVERS, KIDNEYS, PANCREAS, SMALL BOWEL, SKIN, HEART VALVES, VEINS, CORNEAS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL TISSUES. WE WORK IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES, 175 HOSPITALS INCLUDING 5 LOCAL TRANSPLANT CENTERS, 44 CORONER/MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND 500+ FUNERAL HOMES TO CONNECT DONORS TO RECIPIENTS. WE RESPECT THE DONOR FAMILIES WE SERVE WITH COMPASSIONATE CARE, AND INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITIES TO DONATE LIFE.

Income
$160.6 million
Spending
$159.4 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
513
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$787,342, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $137.7 million spent. DONOR NETWORK WEST SUPPORTED THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES LAST YEAR THROUGH THEIR GRIEF AS THEY SUFFERED THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONES. FAMILIES WERE EITHER INFORMED OF THEIR LOVED ONE'S DONATION DECISION MADE ON THE DONOR REGISTRY OR AUTHORIZED DONATION FOR THEIR LOVED ONE. BY GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE, THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS AND THEIR FAMILIES SAVED AND HEALED MANY LIVES.IN 2024, 1,476 ORGANS TRANSPLANTED FROM 446 ORGAN DONORS, 2,590 TISSUE DONORS, AND 6,768 RESEARCH SAMPLES.
  2. $4.3 million spent. DONOR FAMILIES ARE CARED FOR THROUGHOUT THE DONATION PROCESS AND FOLLOWING DONATION. OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF PROVIDES SUPPORT AND INFORMATION IN THE MOMENT AND PROVIDES AFTERCARE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO DONOR FAMILIES FOR A YEAR POSTDONATION. DONOR NETWORK WEST HOSTED THREE SEPARATE REGIONAL DONOR FAMILY CEREMONIES IN 2024. THESE CEREMONIES HONORED AND CELEBRATED DONOR FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES WHO GAVE THE GIFT OF LIFE THROUGH ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION.
  3. $1.4 million spent. THE SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE ORGANS IS A SERIOUS HEALTHCARE ISSUE AS APPROXIMATELY 17-22 PEOPLE NATIONALLY WILL DIE EACH DAY WAITING FOR AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT. DONOR NETWORK WEST'S PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS FOCUS ON INCREASING REGISTRATIONS ON THE OFFICIAL DONOR REGISTRIES IN CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA ALONG WITH THE DONATE LIFE AMERICA NATIONAL REGISTRY. OUR COMMUNITY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS SEVERAL KEY CAMPAIGNS TO INCREASE DONOR REGISTRATIONS. THESE CAMPAIGNS INCLUDE WORKING WITH HIGH SCHOOLS, FAITH ORGANIZATIONS, CONSULATE OFFICES, CIVIC GROUPS AND A FOCUSES ON MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH. WE PARTNER WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE OFFICES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OFFICE TO ENSURE THE RECORDING OF THE DONATION DECISIONS OF MILLIONS OF CALIFORNIANS AND NEVADANS. OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS REGULARLY VISIT, EDUCATE, AND PROVIDE EDUCATION TO INSPIRE THE PUBLIC TO REGISTER AND BECOME DONORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1992.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.