Body donation
Giving the body to a medical school for teaching and research. Each state has a board or university programs.
What it is
Whole-body donation gives the body to a medical school or a state anatomical board, where it is used to teach students and for research. It is arranged with the program, separately from registering as an organ donor.
Programs set their own rules: who they accept, how far they will travel, which costs they cover, and when the cremated remains come back to the family.
Good to know
- Many programs require you to register before death. The UTHSC program in Tennessee, for example, will not accept someone who was not registered.
- Any program may decline a donation at the time of death, so keep a backup plan with a funeral home.
Body donation by state
| State | Where to donate |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Alaska | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed a whole-body donation program in this state yet. Ask the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Mortuary Science. |
| Arizona | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Arkansas | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| California | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Colorado | Programs The State Anatomical Board of Colorado receives donations. |
| Connecticut | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed a whole-body donation program in this state yet. Ask the Connecticut Board of Examiners of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Delaware | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed a whole-body donation program in this state yet. Ask the Delaware Board of Funeral Services. |
| District of Columbia | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Florida | Programs The Anatomical Board of the State of Florida receives donations. |
| Georgia | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Hawaii | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Idaho | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed a whole-body donation program in this state yet. Ask the Idaho Board of Morticians. |
| Illinois | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Indiana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed a whole-body donation program in this state yet. Ask the Indiana State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service. |
| Iowa | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Kansas | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Kentucky | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Louisiana | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Maine | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed a whole-body donation program in this state yet. Ask the Maine Board of Funeral Services. |
| Maryland | Programs The Maryland State Anatomy Board receives donations. |
| Massachusetts | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Michigan | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Minnesota | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Mississippi | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Missouri | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Montana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed a whole-body donation program in this state yet. Ask the Montana Board of Funeral Service. |
| Nebraska | Programs The Nebraska State Anatomical Board at UNMC receives donations. |
| Nevada | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| New Hampshire | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| New Jersey | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| New Mexico | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| New York | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| North Carolina | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| North Dakota | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Ohio | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Oklahoma | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Oregon | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Pennsylvania | Programs Donations go directly to the medical school programs listed. |
| Rhode Island | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| South Carolina | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| South Dakota | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Tennessee | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Texas | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Utah | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Vermont | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Virginia | Programs The Virginia State Anatomical Program, part of the Department of Health, receives donations. |
| Washington | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed a whole-body donation program in this state yet. Ask the Washington Funeral and Cemetery Board. |
| West Virginia | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Wisconsin | Programs Donations go directly to the program listed. |
| Wyoming | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed a whole-body donation program in this state yet. Ask the Wyoming State Board of Funeral Service Practitioners. |
Common questions
- How do I donate my body to science in my state?
- Contact the program listed for your state in the table below, ask for its forms, and register in advance. Tell your family and your funeral home, since the program must be called soon after death.
- Does body donation cost anything?
- It depends on the program. Many cover transport and cremation within a set distance, and some ask the family to pay for transport from farther away. Ask the program before you register.
Funeral homes near you
Call two or three homes and compare their written price lists.