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About the Donation Process

The Anatomical Donation Program is designed to support families and funeral professionals with clarity, sensitivity, and respect.


Who Can Become a Donor

Most adults are eligible to become anatomical donors for funeral service education. Age, medical history, or prior illness does not automatically prevent donation.


Final acceptance of a donation is determined at the time of death and depends on educational needs and medical considerations.


Preclusions for the donor program:

-Weight exceeding 200 pounds

-Communicable or infectious disease present at time of death

-Post-mortem examination or organ donation (some cases are an exception)



When a death occurs:

  1. Call the designated Donor Line: 1-855-759-2569. A licensed funeral director will return your call once minimal information is provided.
  2. The funeral director returning your call will ask the following questions in order to complete and file a Certified Death Certificate.
  3. Legal next-of-kin will complete donation/cremation paperwork through digital signature.
  4. Upon completion of the donation process (which may take up to, but no longer than 6 months), cremation will occur. It is up to your family to decide if the cremated remains will be picked up from the college, mailed through USPS Priority Mail Express ($), or scattered at sea by a licensed sea captain ($).
  5. The option for an online obituary is available at no cost to families, and can include a photo of your loved one.


The transfer of your loved one to our facility will be coordinated with our care team and any healthcare institution, if applicable.



Cost

While MCCC does not financially benefit from a donation, third party transfer technicians and crematories require compensation for their services. These charges have been significantly reduced to accommodate the nature of our program and are typically less than $1,000 (including death certificates). Circumstances including distance, place of death, and time of death may have an impact on third party fees. SSI/Medicaid can be utilized as a means of payment to any outside parties for costs incurred. The claim will be completed by the funeral director upon verification of your loved one’s eligibility.


Families will receive the cremated remains within six months of when the donation occurred. Cremated remains will be returned in the temporary container provided by the crematory, unless an urn is selected by the authorizing agent.


Although MCCC does not financially benefit from your loved one’s donation, families can still opt to donate to the Funeral Service Scholarship Foundation, to further support our students in their endeavors to guide grieving families in their time of most need.