Become a Kidney Health Coach
Kidney Health Coach is the American Kidney Fund's free, community health education program.
Call for Applications: American Kidney Fund's Kidney Health Coach® Health Equity Grants
The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2025-2026 Kidney Health Coach (KHC) Healthy Equity Grants and invites coaches and community organizations to apply!
Kidney Health Coach is AKF's signature community health education program that aims to prevent the onset of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and slow its progression to kidney failure. KHC trains individuals to become coaches and equips them with the knowledge and tools to engage their communities about CKD awareness and prevention through tailored education activities. Coaches deliver kidney health information through various methods and diverse settings within their local communities.
The Health Equity Grants expand the reach and impact of KHC to help community organizations and individual coaches overcome financial barriers to implement KHC and spread CKD prevention and management messages to at-risk populations.
AVAILABLE GRANTS
For the 2025-2026 grant cycle, AKF will select:
52 coaches to receive a single grant of $500 each
8 organizations to receive a single grant of $10,000 each
TO APPLY
Complete and submit the online grant application linked below by April 25, 2025. Please review the eligibility and grant requirements before applying. Only complete applications will be reviewed. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
The grant application process is competitive. Even if a coach or organization received a grant in the past, it does not guarantee you will receive funding in the future.
Community Organizations Apply Here
The American Kidney Fund's Kidney Health for All health equity programming is supported by AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Travere Therapeutics, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and others.
For questions, please email education@kidneyfund.org
Watch: A moment to inspire with Kidney Health Coach, Tamara Walker
Are you passionate about preventing kidney disease? Do you enjoy educating others about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle? If so, our Kidney Health Coach program is for you!
This program equips health professionals and the general public with the knowledge and tools to educate their patients and community about preventing and managing kidney disease.
Why become a Kidney Health Coach?
As a Kidney Health Coach, you will:
- Raise awareness about kidney disease and its risk factors
- Help people learn how to prevent kidney disease and kidney failure
- Encourage people to get tested and make lifestyle changes to keep their kidneys healthy
- Build trusting relationships with people in your community
- Gain access to tools and resources designed to raise kidney disease awareness and education within your community
- Receive support and guidance from dedicated AKF staff members leading the program.
- Find support and share your experiences by connecting with the community of Kidney Health Coaches doing similar work.
"I have actively educated others about kidney disease through a series of focused initiatives, including organizing community outreach programs and health seminars dedicated to raising awareness about the risk factors, prevention, and management of kidney disease."
Who can become a Kidney Health Coach?
Anyone interested in learning more and educating others about kidney disease can become a Kidney Health Coach. More than 6,000 health professionals, people living with kidney disease, and caregivers serve as Kidney Health Coaches.
Online Course
Kidney Health Coach Course Outline
Kidney Health Coach includes a 2-hour self-paced online training course presented through a series of four modules.
To become a Kidney Health Coach, you must complete all components of the course.
Upon successful completion, you will obtain a certificate of completion. Continuing education (CE) credits are available at no cost for eligible health care professionals.
"I became a Kidney Health Coach while on home dialysis. I started educating the public about kidney disease through my blog and 1:1 talks with members of my community."
Health Equity Grants
The Health Equity Grants expand the reach and impact of Kidney Health Coach by enabling grassroots organizations and coaches across the country to reach at-risk communities with messages around kidney disease prevention and progression.
- Cycle 1 (November 2023 – November 2024): AKF provided grants to four organizations and 29 coaches.
- Cycle 2 (October 2024 – October 2025): AKF selected four organizations and 20 coaches to receive grants.
Watch this video showcasing how KHC grantees are making a difference in their communities. From educational workshops, community events and one-on-one conversations, these dedicated coaches are empowering people to take charge of their kidney health.
Questions on how to get started?
We're here to help. Email us at education@kidneyfund.org for support and we'll do our best to respond within 7 business days.