Location: 766 Turnpike Street, Canton
MA
About Us
About MatchingDonors
MatchingDonors.com is a nonprofit organization based in Canton, Massachusetts, dedicated to helping patients in need of organ transplants connect with living, altruistic donors. Founded in 2004, we became the first organization in the world to successfully facilitate an organ transplant through the Internet.
Since our launch, MatchingDonors.com—an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit—has helped more than 10,000 patients in need of transplants and supported over 15,000 registered living donors who were willing to give the gift of life.
While the national transplant waiting list can take 7 to 9 years, many of our patients on MatchingDonors.com receive a transplant within six months or less of registering on our website. MatchingDonors.com has become the leading nonprofit organization in the U.S. for matching people in need of kidney and other organ transplants with compassionate, living donors.
We are funded through memberships, advertising, and generous donations, and we remain committed to saving lives through innovation, awareness, and human connection.
Our Mission
MatchingDonors.com was created to give individuals waiting for an organ transplant the power to take an active role in their journey. Our mission is to increase the number of life-saving transplant surgeries by connecting patients with living donors and raising awareness of the importance of living organ donation. The most common organs donated by living individuals include kidneys and liver lobes.
Our Story
MatchingDonors.com was co-founded by Paul Dooley, a tech entrepreneur from Canton, MA, and Dr. Jeremiah Lowney, a Boston-based internist. The idea stemmed from a personal experience: Paul’s father was gravely ill with cancer and needed a kidney transplant—but was denied placement on the national list due to the expected wait time and his critical condition.
Frustrated and inspired to act, Paul—who had also created the award-winning CollegeJobBoard.com—posed a powerful question to Dr. Lowney: Could a website connecting potential living donors to patients in need change the future of transplant care?
Their research uncovered a key insight from the National Kidney Foundation: 25% of people surveyed said they would consider donating an organ to a stranger. That discovery led to the creation of MatchingDonors.com in 2004. And the rest is medical history.
How It Works
MatchingDonors.com enables both patients and donors to create profiles, making it easier to find suitable matches. All organ donations facilitated through our platform are strictly altruistic and uncompensated, in full compliance with legal and ethical standards.
In addition to organ donor matching, we accept non-cash donations such as vehicles, real estate, and boats. Proceeds from these donations support our programs and allow us to offer our services at little to no cost. Donors receive a tax deduction, and our team handles the process at no cost to them.
Volunteering and Affiliate Opportunities
We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities, including eligibility for the President’s Volunteer Service Award for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Volunteers assist with outreach, administrative work, and community engagement.
Our affiliate program also allows individuals to spread the word about MatchingDonors.com while earning commissions—helping save lives and grow awareness simultaneously. Affiliates receive a full set of customizable promotional tools.
Recognition and Trust
MatchingDonors.com has earned numerous awards and accolades for its groundbreaking work from The House, Senate and The President if The United States. We’ve been featured in thousands of national media and are proud to maintain an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for over 20 years. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we are committed to transparency, accountability, and results.
The Growing Need
In 1993, approximately 31,000 people were on the U.S. organ transplant waiting list. By 2025, that number exceeded 100,000. Every day, 15 people die waiting for a life-saving transplant.Despite advances in medicine, most transplants still rely on deceased donors. Only about 7,000 living donor transplants occur annually, and cadaver organ donations have remained largely unchanged. The national transplant list, managed by UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing), continues to face challenges in meeting demand
Our Solution
MatchingDonors.com complements the traditional transplant system by giving patients an opportunity to find living, altruistic donors. Our platform has inspired thousands of people to register as potential donors—many of whom had never considered donation before learning about our work.
Our Commitment
MatchingDonors.com helps facilitate connections—we do not perform transplant surgeries. Once a match is made, all standard medical and legal procedures for living organ donation are followed. We work closely with transplant centers and healthcare providers to support both patients and donors every step of the way.
We ensure all donors understand that financial compensation for organ donation is illegal in the United States.
While not required, we encourage patients to share updates and data, such as inquiries, tests, matches, and outcomes. Many also provide personal stories to inspire and guide others.
Get Involved
Headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, our team operates remotely across the U.S., covering everything from technology to patient support. We invite individuals, media professionals, and healthcare providers to connect with us.
For interviews, medical questions, or partnership inquiries, please contact Paul Dooley, our Co-Founder and spokesperson.
Paul Dooley
MatchingDonors.com
766 Turnpike Street Canton, MA 02021
781-821-2204 ext. 1