Why Support Gift of Life

Gift of Life Transplant House is a Rochester, Minnesota, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization whose mission is to provide transplant patients and their caregivers with high-quality, affordable accommodations in a supportive, home-like environment.  

Since its beginnings in 1984 it has partnered with Mayo Clinic to serve transplant patients from all over the world.  As an organization independent of Mayo Clinic and through the generosity of its many contributors Gift of Life has grown to be the largest hospitality house of its kind in the world.  It has nearly 100,000 square feet in facilities and has a small yet devoted professional staff led by an all-volunteer Board of Directors.

Transplantation is a life-saving Mayo Clinic treatment for over 700 patients every year.  However, a typical 3-week outpatient stay in Rochester while waiting for or recovering from transplant is customarily un-reimbursed by insurance.  Surprisingly more than 75% of those filing for bankruptcy due to medical reasons are from patients who actually had insurance at the start of their illness.  Health problems are recognized as the #1 cause of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. and currently comprise more than 60% of personal financial failures.  Gift of Life provides an affordable stay during a life-saving transplant and charges just $25 per guest room daily.  Even those charges are completely forgiven for the financially needy.  Without Gift of Life many patients could not otherwise financially afford the stay for a life-saving transplant at Mayo Clinic.

One measure of success at Gift of Life continues to be a growing demand for services.  Our organization started small with an 8-room home in 1984 and has grown to 87 rooms.  More than 50,000 guest nights are recorded annually and that represents an average occupancy of nearly 90%.  Based on local ‘economy hotel’ rates Gift of Life saves its guests and their families an estimated $3,775,000 every year.

Gift of Life is sustained by charitable contributions and volunteerism.  Financially approximately 81% of GOL’s expenses are devoted directly to its programs with the remaining 19% to the expenses needed for management and fundraising.  Our mission depends upon charitable contributions from the public to make up the annual $500,000 to $600,000 deficit between income and expenses.  Annual fundraising needs have recently increased nearly two-fold.  Gift of Life typically utilizes over 50 volunteers monthly who donate close to 6,000 hours annually filing a variety of roles.
 
In 2010 a desperately needed expansion was completed for which the Board authorized a $5.3M low interest mortgage.  Gift of Life has always retired its mortgages prior to their date due and hopefully can do the same to save on the projected $9M in expenses accruing during the 25 year life of the current loan.  Retiring debt through prepayments will significantly strengthen the financial position of our organization making it possible for future expansion of services for the ever-increasing numbers of transplant patients.  

Gift of Life is truly dedicated to continue to provide access to high quality and supportive “home away from home” lodging that is affordable to as many transplant guests as are in need at Mayo Clinic.