COTA Facts

Children’s Organ Transplant Association Facts

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a 501(c)3 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 in honor of patients 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.
  • COTA has helped more than 1,300 children and adults and has raised nearly $50 million.
  • Since 1986, nearly 900 COTA patients have been successfully transplanted.
  • In FY 2008, nearly 80 COTA patients were successfully transplanted and more than $3.9 million was raised.
  • 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 transplant-related expenses.
  • In addition to children, COTA works with adults with genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis or Sickle Cell Anemia.  In 2006, 94% 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.
  • Last year, COTA’s website became the organization’s fastest growing method of raising funds with nearly $700,000 in online donations being contributed electronically by 4,500 donors.
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Meg Dvorak

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Making Miracles:

“Treyton’s transplant, with his dad being his living donor, was a true miracle. With COTA’s help, our whole church, and the city of Bloomington-Normal, was thinking about, and praying for, this transplant. COTA connected the community to our little boy, and that connection helped make a miracle.”

Shannon Flies