COTA Facts

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a national charity based in Bloomington, Indiana, which is dedicated to organizing and guiding families and communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients. COTA’s priority is to assure that no child or young adult is denied a transplant or excluded from a transplant waiting list due to lack of funds. 100% of all funds raised are used for transplant-related expenses. Founded in 1986 after a group of Bloomington, Indiana, volunteers helped raise funds to place a child on the liver transplant waiting list.

• Founded in 1986 after a group of Bloomington, Indiana, volunteers helped raise funds to place a child on the liver transplant waiting list.
• COTA has helped nearly 1,900 children and adults and has raised over $65 million.
• Since 1986, more than 1,300 COTA patients have been successfully transplanted.
• In 2011, more than 100 COTA patients were successfully transplanted and nearly $4.2 million was raised. COTA funds are available for the patient’s life for transplant-related expenses.
• COTA does not charge any patient for its services.
• Every dollar raised in honor of COTA’s patients is used for transplant-related expenses.
• COTA funds are available for the patient’s life for almost any transplant-related expense.
• In addition to children, COTA works with adults with genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis. In 2011, 90% of COTA patients were under the age of 21.
• Nearly 80% of COTA’s patients are referred to COTA by a social worker, financial coordinator or transplant coordinator at a transplant center.
• Since 1986, COTA volunteers and staff have distributed more than 1,000,000 organ donation registration cards. COTA works in partnership with the Donate Life America, Donate Life Indiana, and The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation to increase the organ donation rate.