Patient Advocacy & Ambassador Programs

Free volunteer ambassador, advocacy, and peer-mentor programs from national kidney organizations — with direct links to join and make your voice heard.

• AAKP Ambassador Program — A volunteer program of the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) for highly engaged patients and family members with lived experience of kidney disease, dialysis, transplantation, or living donation. Ambassadors make sure patient voices are heard — participating in focus groups, roundtables, clinical trial input, and federal testimony, and communicating with elected officials. To join, email ambassador@aakp.org to express interest.
• American Kidney Fund Advocacy Network (Ambassadors) — The American Kidney Fund's Advocacy Network is made up of volunteer Ambassadors who raise awareness of kidney disease and work to protect patient access to quality health care. Ambassadors engage with legislators to influence public policy and educate their communities about the causes and prevention of kidney disease. A direct online sign-up form is available to join the network. Join / Apply
• Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) Patient Ambassadors — A volunteer program for people with kidney disease and their family members who represent Dialysis Patient Citizens as leaders in their local community and dialysis facility. Patient Ambassadors help fellow dialysis patients gain the education, access, and confidence to become their own advocates. An online application form is available. Join / Apply
• NKF PEERS Mentoring Program — The National Kidney Foundation's peer-mentoring program connects kidney patients, living donors, and care partners with trained volunteer mentors who have been through similar experiences. You can volunteer to become a trained mentor and support others over the phone, or sign up to be matched with a mentor yourself. Enrollment is through NKF's online mentoring platform. Join / Apply
• PKD Foundation Outreach Ambassadors — A volunteer program of the PKD Foundation that connects the Foundation with previously underserved communities affected by polycystic kidney disease. Outreach Ambassadors guide communities of color through the Foundation's resources on disease management, treatment options, and navigating the health care system. See the program page for the role description and contact details to get involved.
• Donor Network West — Donate Life Ambassador Program — Donate Life Ambassadors are the heart of Donor Network West's community outreach program. As an Ambassador, you work with the Donor Network West team to engage people in your community and encourage more people to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors. Volunteers participate in local events, give public talks, and share their personal stories — whether as a donor family member, transplant recipient, or community supporter. Applications are submitted through the Volunteer Hub portal. Donor Network West also hosts the annual Stride for Hope Run/Walk (San Ramon and Fresno each September). Join / Apply
• Donate Life America — Get Involved Locally — Donate Life America coordinates a network of state-level Donate Life teams — one for every U.S. state — each with a local contact you can reach to find volunteer opportunities, community events, and organ donor registry outreach in your area. Whether you are a transplant recipient, living donor, donor family member, or supporter, you can connect with your state's OPO-based Donate Life team to spread awareness, staff local events, or represent Donate Life at community gatherings. The state contact directory on donatelife.net lists the email and phone number for every state team. Donate Life America also leads National Donor Day (February 14) and National Donate Life Month (April) annually. Join / Apply
• NKF Kidney Advocacy Committee (KAC) & Kidney Outreach Team — The National Kidney Foundation's volunteer advocacy corps of roughly 300 patients, professionals, and community leaders who use their personal experiences to inform elected officials on kidney-related legislation, policies, research, and education. Advocates meet with federal and state lawmakers, serve as speakers, focus group participants, and patient research reviewers, and take part in the Annual Kidney Patient Summit in Washington, D.C. Patients, caregivers, living donors, and health professionals can apply through an online advocacy application form. Join / Apply
• NephCure Action Network (NCAN) — A movement of rare kidney disease (RKD) patients, caregivers, physicians, and partner organizations working for lasting legislative and policy improvements. Members receive advocacy training opportunities and time-sensitive action alerts, and can take part in events like NephCure's Rare Kidneys on the Hill Day, where advocates meet with members of Congress. A direct online sign-up form is available to join the network. Join / Apply
• Forum of ESRD Networks — Kidney Patient Advisory Council (KPAC) — A patient-led council of the Forum of ESRD Networks made up of dialysis and transplant patient representatives from each of the 18 regional ESRD Networks. KPAC members advocate on behalf of all ESRD patients, advise on quality improvement programs and patient education materials, and publish newsletters and webinars. Patients typically get involved by first volunteering with their regional ESRD Network's Patient Advisory Committee — contact information for every Network is listed on the Forum's website.
• The Great Social Experiment — Angel Advocate Program — A volunteer program that assigns Angel Advocates to patients who need a living kidney donor but do not have enough support to share their story. Advocates help amplify the patient's story and educate their communities about living donation so potential donors can learn how to help. The Great Social Experiment also provides free patient resources and information about transplantation, dialysis, and online communities. Apply through the Angel Advocate registration page. Join / Apply

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