Our Team

The Rights and Needs of Living Organ Donors are Our Priority

Founder’s Story

The American Living Organ Donor Fund (ALODF) was started by Michael Mittelman and Sigrid Fry-Revere in 2014. Michael had two kidney transplants from deceased donors as a child. He wanted to start an organization in his mother’s memory. She donated her kidney to him in 2001 (his third transplant), and she passed away a few years later. At its core, the organization believes that living organ donation should be cost-neutral to the donor, so the group makes direct grants to help living organ donors overcome financial obstacles to their donation.

Almost half of all organ donors are living organ donors. They are the unsung heroes of the transplant story. Our mission is to protect the rights of living organ donors and to make sure the procedure is cost-neutral. The American Living Organ Donor Fund is need-blind and makes direct grants to living organ donors both pre and post-donation to cover donation related expenses (including but not limited to lost wages, travel, lodging, child care, caregiver, etc.).

The organization serves all kinds of living organ donors – kidney, bone marrow, liver, and lung. Living organ donors, on average, spend $5,000 out-of-pocket, but sometimes costs go as high as $20,000. Only 8% of Americans can afford to donate an organ without using their savings or going into debt. In less than 5 years, the organization has helped make more than 150+ living organ donation transplants possible. Living organ donors are doing enough by donating an organ, so they and their families should not also have to suffer financially.

In addition to making direct grants, the organization has a diverse variety of initiatives which include providing information for donors, educating the public on living organ donation, and working on policy initiatives to address living organ donors’ needs and protecting their rights. The organization also has an online donor and potential donor only support group with 500+members and a new program to provide pro bono psychological counseling. Your contribution can make a different between life and death in the future of someone in need of an organ transplant. Help us fulfill our mission by making a donation.

Officer List

  • Officer: Michael Mittelman, Chairman, CEO
  • Chief Operating officer: Rebecca Bertha
  • Acting Chief Financial Officer: Deanna Henderson
  • Treasurer and CFO: Jackson Oliver

Team Members

Michael Mittelman

Chairman & Executive Director

Dr. Lloyd Ratner, PhD

Board of Directors

Dr. Eric R. Cohen, PhD

Board of Directors

Shelby zitelman

Board of Directors

Jackson Oliver

Board of Directors

Rebecca Leigh Bertha, RN

Board of Directors

Living Organ Donor

Alex Bomstein, JD

Board of Directors

Ken Sutha, MD

Board of Directors

Jay Nagy

Board of Directors

Camille Hernandez

Advisory Board

Eldonna Edwards

Advisory Board

Living Organ Donor

Deanna Henderson

Board of Directors

Living Organ Donor

Online Living Organ Donor Support and Information

We have a donor and people considering donation only support group on Facebook that is growing larger almost daily. Share your concerns and experiences. Ask questions of those who have been there!