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Donor Network West is a federally designated nonprofit, 501(c)3, organ procurement and tissue recovery organization (OPO) with headquarters in Northern California and Northern Nevada. Established in 1987, we serve more than 13 million people and connect a donor’s gift to those in need in 45 counties in northern California and northern Nevada.

Donor Network West’s mission is to saves and heals lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation and research. We honor and respect the donors and families we serve with compassionate care and inspire our communities to donate life.

Donor Network West is proud to be a Donate Life organization and an accredited member of the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

Learn more about Donor Network West.

We proudly serve 175 hospitals in 45 counties and more than 13 million people in Northern California and Northern Nevada. Donor Network West works in close partnership with families, doctors, nurses, more than 500 funeral homes and 44 coroners and medical examiners to connect donors to recipients. View the map of our service area.

The terminology used to describe and report on organ and tissue donation has evolved due to changes in the field and at the request of donor families out of respect for their loved ones. For example, the word “recovery” (as in “organ recovery” or “tissue recovery”) has replaced “harvest”, as the universally adopted term. Below is a list of several other dated donation-related terms and their preferred uses.

For an expansive list of terms and topics specific to organ and tissue donation, click here.