Why we fight kidney disease on all fronts
More than 35 million Americans have kidney disease — that's 1 in 7 people. Those who live with this isolating illness can tell you how it touches every area of their lives: from their physical and mental health to their jobs and relationships. AKF is the only organization ensuring that every patient has access to the health care and support they need, at every step of their disease.
Fight kidney disease on all fronts with us
The generosity of people like you makes the work of fighting on all fronts possible, from prevention and research through treatment and transplant.
Fight kidney disease on all fronts with us
A silent epidemic that derails lives
Kidney disease is a top 10 leading cause of death in the U.S., but it’s an illness with no warning signs and low awareness. Far too many people know nothing about kidney disease—until it’s too late.
When people are concerned about their risk or receive a kidney disease diagnosis, the AKF is one of the first places they turn. We consider it our obligation to provide the best tools and information to help people reduce their risk of getting kidney disease and enable those with the disease to live longer, healthier lives.
Kidney patients can’t afford lifesaving treatments and transplants
Patients living with kidney failure must dialyze to stay alive or receive a kidney transplant. But 1 in 7 dialysis patients, and many transplant patients, cannot afford the cost of care. AKF provides lifesaving financial assistance. We help low-income dialysis and transplant patients pay for health insurance premiums, out-of-pocket expenses such as transportation to and from treatment, medical supplies, prescription drugs and more.
Kidney disease research has lagged behind
Despite the prevalence and public health burden of kidney disease, research has not kept pace. Dialysis hasn’t advanced much since it was invented decades ago. The AKF Clinical Scientist in Nephrology (CSN) program accelerates the pace of kidney disease research by funding nephrology’s brightest scholars. Our CSN fellows have gone on to become some of the nation’s leading nephrologists.
Kidney patients face glaring health disparities
Black Americans are 4 times more likely to develop kidney failure. Hispanic Americans are 2.3 times more likely than non-Hispanics to develop kidney failure, and Native Americans are 1.9 times more likely than white Americans to develop kidney failure. An integral part of AKF’s mission is addressing health disparities by minimizing the impact of the social determinants of health, improving health care delivery, investing in targeted research and improving the public health surveillance infrastructure.
Kidney patients and living donors need a champion
We fight for the rights of kidney patients and living donors by advocating for policies—at both the state and federal levels—that protect their health insurance coverage, prevent workplace discrimination and fund long-overdue research advances. We have built a nationwide network of more than 20,000 AKF Ambassadors, which unites patients, living donors, family members, caregivers and renal professionals as a voice for patient rights.
Fighting on all fronts
From prevention and research through treatment and transplant, we are dedicated to making sure kidney patients have someone fighting by their side.
