How Does Donating a Car Help Fund Kidney Disease Research and Kidney Patient Programs in Utah?

The National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho (NKF of U&I) was established in 1986 with the explicit purpose of raising funds for local medical research, financial and medical assistance for kidney patients, and to promote organ donation and kidney disease prevention efforts within the community.

Over the past 39 years, NKF of U&I has raised more than $35 million to support these vital initiatives. This financial aid has been made possible thanks to the generosity of Utah and Idaho families who have donated used or non-working vehicles to the Kidney Kars charity donation program.

The National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho has established itself as Utah’s most trusted and official car donation program—and is recognized as one of the leading programs of its kind in the country. More than 70% of Kidney Kars donations made through towKars.org come from word-of-mouth referrals or from “Repeat Car Donors” who have contributed multiple vehicles over the years.

Local donations also come from Utah-based businesses, including banks, car dealerships, mechanic shops, towing agencies, and insurance agents. These partners work with the NKF of U&I to donate company vehicles that no longer meet operational standards—such as delivery trucks and vans from businesses like R.C. Willey, Any Hour Services, Smith’s Food & Drug, and many others.

The Utah community has come to recognize that donating an old car, truck, or van is not only a convenient way to dispose of an unused vehicle, but also a meaningful way to directly support friends and neighbors undergoing dialysis or awaiting a kidney transplant.

If you’d like to help fight kidney disease in Utah, support organ donation, and improve the quality of life for local kidney patients, please donate your car locally at towKars.org. Donations are tax-deductible, towing is free, and most vehicles are picked up within 24–48 hours.