AKF is fighting kidney disease on all fronts. Delve into our 2024 Annual Report to learn all that we’ve accomplished together.
Dear Friend,
Kidney disease affects us all. It's the fastest-growing noncontagious disease in our country, and one of our nation's most pressing health challenges. While no two journeys with kidney disease are exactly alike, the need for hope — anything that promises a better, longer, healthier life — is universal.
The American Kidney Fund is there when and where people need us, no matter where they are in their journey. And it's all possible because of YOU: The supporters who believe so deeply in our work and the difference we're making.
As you'll read in this report, we accomplished so much together in 2024. AKF worked nationally and in local communities, unveiling new resources, programs and events — all designed to generate hope for people affected by this serious condition, including caregivers and living donors.
In the wake of an especially devastating hurricane season, we helped more than 1,600 kidney patients, providing crucial financial assistance to help them recover from the disasters. We reached deep into American communities hard-hit by kidney disease, mobilizing our Kidney Health Coaches and local partners to spread the word about prevention, early detection and management.
In this momentous year, AKF also reached more health care professionals and scientists to improve our collective understanding of rare, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed causes of kidney disease. And we reached a national audience with high-profile partnerships and campaigns, including our first-ever APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day.
No other kidney organization reaches farther to directly impact more lives than AKF. Thanks to your generosity, the kidney community can find hope in education, lifesaving financial support and research that powers new treatment breakthroughs. We can see hope in early detection, access to high-quality health care, the possibility of a transplant and more.
On behalf of everyone at AKF, thank you for being on this journey with us. Together, we are fighting kidney disease on all fronts — and putting hope within reach.
With sincerest gratitude,
18,332 people in high-risk communities learned how to keep their kidneys healthy, thanks to our Kidney Health Coach Health Equity Grants.
1,601 people on dialysis received grants from AKF enabling a life-saving kidney transplant.
3x as many people with kidney disease received emergency financial assistance to cope with a natural disaster, compared to 2023.
Nearly 380,000 people learned about living well with kidney disease by viewing our free webinars.
7,000+ Kidney Health Coaches have been trained to date to spread the word about kidney disease prevention, early detection and management worldwide.
Kidney disease is complex, life-threatening and costly — but no one has to go through it alone. The American Kidney Fund helps people navigate every stage of the journey, from prevention through post-transplant living, with financial support for lifesaving treatments, practical educational resources, plus advocacy for rare causes that often go misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.
In 2024, AKF provided direct financial assistance to about 70,000 dialysis and recent transplant patients with low incomes in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and every U.S. territory. We also expanded our Living Donor Assistance Program™ to serve Massachusetts and the DC metropolitan area.
Tracey Previti surprised her then-boyfriend John — and herself — when she offered to donate her kidney as he battled polycystic kidney disease (PKD). AKF reimbursed her for some of the out-of-pocket costs — and now the newly married couple is paying it forward.
“I just wanted [other living donors] to know that there is help out there if you need it.”
When a natural disaster hits, people can lose access to life-sustaining kidney treatments—and AKF is there, ready to help. This year, our Disaster Relief Program provided nearly $420,000 in emergency financial assistance to more than 1,600 people with kidney failure affected by hurricanes and severe storms.
"Every penny I got was extremely helpful and helped relieve so much stress. Every bit of help is life-changing to so many people. Thank you!"
-Mark Pendlebury, survivor of Hurricane Helene, Augusta, Georgia.
No matter how you come to kidney disease, AKF is committed to helping you every step of the way. In 2024 we greatly expanded Know Your Kidneys®, a comprehensive program that provides a roadmap to better kidney health.
AKF’s Camp Connections creates a space for children and their families to form essential bonds, with a healthy dose of fun. In 2024, we brought on two new hospital partners and reached 155 campers from 30 states.
While every community needs reliable information about kidney disease, some areas are more affected than others due to complex social determinants of health and other factors. Together with our partners, the American Kidney Fund reaches deep into these U.S. communities, combining awareness and education with a personal touch to help reduce health disparities.
AKF is working to change the role of race and ethnicity in kidney disease with Kidney Health for All™. In 2024, we launched an ambitious national media campaign to generate greater awareness of kidney disease in eight U.S. markets disproportionately affected by kidney failure.
We also released Your Guide to Kidney Transplant, a curated toolkit to help patients, especially in underserved communities, access the best treatment for kidney failure.
AKF received 38 excellence awards in 2024 for our patient-friendly education campaigns, engaging videos, Kidney Health For All website and more.
AKF’s innovative Kidney Health Coach® program equips health professionals and everyday people to deliver culturally relevant information about kidney disease in their communities. In 2024, AKF awarded a second round of grants to 29 Kidney Health Coaches and four organizations, deepening our reach into areas often overlooked in kidney health education.
We are proud to work with dozens of local organizations that share our goals and values to amplify our national reach, especially among communities with large health disparities. Our new partnership with Food & Friends helps people in Washington, DC, manage kidney disease and live healthier, more fulfilling lives.
AKF's life-changing work would not be possible without our generous supporters. You can put hope within reach for the kidney community.
Scientific and medical professionals are on the front lines of advancing kidney care. Your support makes it possible for the American Kidney Fund to equip health care professionals with evidence-based continuing education. We also support early-career scientists who choose to pursue clinical nephrology research.
The fifth Unknown Causes of Kidney Disease (UCKD) Summit convened 100 medical leaders, patient advocates and academic and industry leaders to drive innovation in research, diagnosis and treatment of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed causes of kidney disease.
"I commend [AKF] for putting the mission first always and bringing together the right people."
-Kevin Schnurr, living with Alport syndrome and member of the UCKD Project®
Our prestigious fellowship program attracts talented scientists in the early stages of their careers, then gives them the funding to explore what's next in kidney care. In 2024, AKF awarded Clinical Scientist in Nephrology fellowships to Dr. Kavita Mistry and Dr. Marcelle Tuttle.
2024 AKF CSN Fellow
2024 AKF CSN Fellow
Since 1989, AKF has awarded nearly $6 million in grants to 50+ researchers through the Clinical Scientist in Nephrology program.
While the American Kidney Fund is proud to make a direct impact on individuals with kidney disease, we also drive change on a national scale. With your support, we convene stakeholders to promote the information, laws and policies that will lead to real change for people with and at risk for kidney disease and their families.
April 30, 2024, was an important milestone: the very first national APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day. AMKD is a rapidly progressive form of genetic kidney disease that impacts people of West and Central African descent.
TV and radio interviews for 20 million impressions
toolkit downloads
reached with the #APOL1Aware hashtag
views of the campaign landing page
governor-issued state proclamations
In 2024, we rallied support for federal legislation to improve the lives of people with kidney disease and living organ donors. We also helped pass 11 state bills to support living donors, secure insurance coverage of biomarker testing and expand Medigap to Medicare beneficiaries with kidney failure under age 65.
AKF is a strong, independent voice for the kidney community. Together with our nationwide network of over 36,000 Ambassadors.
emails sent to elected officials
meetings held with elected officials
states and Washington, DC
At AKF, we uphold our community to shine a light on kidney disease and to destigmatize treatments like dialysis and transplants. This year, we hosted several events centered around some of the most pressing issues facing the kidney community.
Everything changed for the Leininger family when Charlie was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease — and then again when they learned the cause was cystinosis, a rare genetic disease. Then the Leiningers learned about AKF's Camp Connections. "It really made Charlie feel special in the best possible way," said his mom, Erin.
After her 2021 kidney transplant, Sally Carrubba wanted to remain connected to the kidney community. She discovered AKF while searching Charity Navigator. "I was so lucky … It was very important to me to give money to an organization that was going to help other people. AKF had a great score [on Charity Navigator], and I knew my money would go to help people in need."
Katie Hallum has been forever changed by her experience with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a rare form of kidney disease. She came by her new kidney in a most unusual way: TikTok. "[Being an AKF Ambassador] means being an advocate for my people. It means being an advocate for the kidney community. It means being an advocate for health equity for all."
In spring 2024, 13-year-old Peyton Halpern was approaching his bar mitzvah, a Jewish tradition that marks when a child becomes an adult, accountable for their own actions. Inspired by his mother Emily's work as a renal dietitian, he started a KidneyNation® fundraiser for his bar mitzvah project. "[AKF] holds a special place in my heart," he said.
Learn more about the many ways you can support the 1 in 7 Americans fighting kidney disease every day – and the millions more at risk. Donate now to make a lasting difference.
Download the 2024 annual report to view the following:
Thank you to our corporate members who support our programs.
