The Department of Health Services (DHS) Organ and Tissue Donation Program works to increase the number of people who say “yes” to organ, tissue, and eye donation and reduce the number of people who are waiting for lifesaving transplantation and life-improving surgery. We work to increase access to transplantation services by providing an efficient and effective donor registry, allowing people to register at the Division of Motor Vehicles, online, or by mail, and enabling secure and immediate access to those decisions for authorized individuals.
We work with Donate Life Wisconsin and other partners to provide innovative and compelling messaging and education to families, health care providers, business and community partners, and the general public.
Wisconsin Donor Registry
Having your name included in the Registry means that you have legally authorized the gift of your organs, tissues, and eyes upon your death. This decision can save and improve lives through transplantation, therapy, research, and education. Anyone with a Wisconsin driver's license or ID can join the Registry, regardless of health history or age. Sign up today!
Nearly 114,000 people are on the national waiting list for organ transplants, including more than 2,000 men, women and children from Wisconsin. Unfortunately, many may never get the call saying that a suitable donor organ has been found—on average, 22 people die each day while waiting for a transplant.
Every year more than 900,000 lives are helped through tissue and eye donation. Tissue is used to treat burn patients, serious abrasions, and in reconstructive surgeries for patients such as breast cancer survivors. Donor tendons are used to repair torn ligaments, veins are used in surgeries, and bone is used to help heal fractures or to prevent amputation. Donor corneas can restore sight to people who are blind.
Please join 3 million Wisconsinites, and sign up to be an organ, tissue, and eye donor at DonorRegistry.Wisconsin.gov.
Donor Designation Data
When applicants for a Wisconsin driver's license or state identification card visit a Department of Transportation Service Center, they are asked if they wish to register to be organ, tissue, and eye donors. The Department of Health Services accesses registrations, in aggregate, to maintain the Donor Designation Query System. This system provides statewide and regional data on donor designation for public education and awareness efforts.
Saving Lives in Wisconsin - Donor Registration Map (PDF)
Forms for Organ, Tissue, and Eye Recovery Organizations
- Release of EMS Reports to Organ and Tissue Procurement Organizations (PDF)
- Wisconsin Donor Registry User Access Request, F-43026 (PDF)
- Document of Anatomical Gift: Authorization for Organ and Tissue Donation, F-43025 (PDF)
- Wisconsin Organ Recovery Assessment Form, F-43023
- Wisconsin Tissue Recovery Assessment Form, F-43024
Helpful links for more information
- Donate Life Wisconsin
- Donate Life America
- Done Vida - Información en español sobre la donación de órganos (information in Spanish about organ, tissue and eye donation)
- U.W. Organ and Tissue Donation - The federally designated organ procurement organization serving 59 counties in Wisconsin.
- Versiti Organ and Tissue Donation - The organ procurement organization designated to serve 10 southeastern Wisconsin counties.
- LifeSource Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation - The organ procurement organization designated to serve Douglas, Pierce and St. Croix Counties.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - U.S. Government information on organ donation and transplantation.
Contact Us
Martha Mallon
Division of Public Health, Room 118
1 W. Wilson St.
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-261-6854
Fax: 608-266-8925
