Best Stool Donation Programs in the US: 2025 Rankings & Comparison

Stool donation programs offer substantial compensation for healthy donors who can commit to regular donations. This comprehensive guide ranks the top programs by pay rates, acceptance criteria, and donor experience to help you maximize your earning potential while contributing to life-saving medical treatments.

1. GoodNature - Highest Regular Compensation

Program Overview

Location: Boston, MA (must live within 1 hour)

Compensation Structure:

• $75 per donation (base rate)
• $100 per donation after 10 consecutive donations
• Donate up to 5 times per week
• Maximum monthly earnings: $1,500-2,000
• Referral bonuses: $200 per approved donor
• Perfect attendance bonus: $500 quarterly

Requirements

• Age 18-50
• BMI 18.5-30
• Regular bowel movements (minimum 3x per week)
• No antibiotics in past 3 months
• No international travel in past 3 months
• Pass extensive health screening
• Commit to minimum 3 donations per week for 2 months

Screening Process

• Online pre-screening questionnaire (30 minutes)
• In-person health assessment
• Blood tests (HIV, Hepatitis, general health)
• Stool sample analysis
• Microbiome diversity testing
• 4-week screening period with test donations

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Highest regular compensation in industry
• Convenient Boston location
• Flexible donation hours (6 AM - 8 PM)
• Excellent facilities and staff
• Clear advancement in pay structure

Cons:

• Must live in Greater Boston area
• Strict attendance requirements
• High rejection rate (only 3% accepted)
• Cannot miss more than 2 donations per month

2. OpenBiome - The Pioneer Program

Program Overview

Location: Cambridge, MA (Somerville facility)

Compensation Structure:

• $40 per donation (standard)
• $50 per donation for "super donors" (exceptional samples)
• Donate up to 5 times per week
• Quarterly bonus: $500 for consistent donors
• Annual earnings potential: $12,000-15,000

Unique Features

• Longest-running stool bank in US
• Samples used for C. diff treatments
• Contributes to microbiome research
• On-site donation facility with private rooms
• Provides detailed health feedback to donors
• Samples help 50+ hospitals nationwide

Requirements

• Age 18-50
• Live within 2 hours of Cambridge
• Healthy BMI (18-26 preferred)
• No chronic conditions
• Willing to undergo extensive screening
• 60-day commitment minimum
• Must donate on-site (no home collection)

3. Human Microbes - Highest Per-Sample Pay

Program Overview

Location: Nationwide (ship samples)

Compensation Structure:

• $500 per approved stool sample
• No minimum donation requirement
• Donate at your convenience
• Potential for $25,000+ annually for regular donors
• Additional compensation for blood samples ($50)

Unique Approach

• Focus on "super donors" with exceptional microbiomes
• Ship samples from home
• Looking for specific bacterial profiles
• Samples used for FMT capsules
• Extremely selective (less than 0.5% acceptance)
• Premium pay reflects rarity of qualifying donors

Requirements

• Exceptional gut health history
• No antibiotics in past 12 months
• Athletic or very active lifestyle
• Plant-rich diet
• Born via vaginal delivery (preferred)
• Breastfed as infant (preferred)
• No mental health medication history

4. Seres Therapeutics - Research Focused

Program Overview

Location: Boston/Cambridge area

Compensation Structure:

• $50 per donation
• Research study bonuses ($100-500)
• Participation in clinical trials (additional compensation)
• 3-5 donations per week expected
• Annual potential: $10,000-12,000

Research Benefits

• Contribute to FDA-approved microbiome drugs
• Free comprehensive health screening
• Detailed microbiome analysis reports
• Early access to microbiome health insights
• Potential participation in groundbreaking studies

5. Rebiotix/Ferring - Midwest Option

Program Overview

Location: Minneapolis, MN (Roseville facility)

Compensation Structure:

• $40 base rate per donation
• $60 for consistent donors (3+ months)
• Quarterly loyalty bonuses
• Annual earnings: $8,000-12,000

Program Benefits

• Only major program in Midwest
• Part of pharmaceutical company (stability)
• Developing RBX2660 (FDA approved treatment)
• Professional medical facility
• Flexible scheduling options

Regional and Smaller Programs

West Coast Options

• Finch Therapeutics (San Francisco): $40-50 per donation, research focused
• Stanford Microbiome Program: Research participation only, $25-50 per sample
• UCLA Microbiome Center: Study-based compensation, varies by protocol

East Coast Programs

• Mount Sinai (NYC): $30-40 per donation, must be local
• University of Pennsylvania: Research studies, $25-75 per sample
• Johns Hopkins (Baltimore): Limited program, $40 per donation

Southern Programs

• Emory University (Atlanta): Research-based, $30-50 per donation
• Baylor (Houston): Small program, $35 per donation
• Duke (North Carolina): Study participation, varies

Comparing Compensation Models

Payment Structures

Bonus Structures

• Consistency bonuses: Most programs offer quarterly bonuses ($300-500)
• Referral bonuses: $100-200 per successful referral
• Milestone bonuses: Extra pay at 50, 100, 200 donations
• Quality bonuses: Higher pay for exceptional samples
• Research participation: Additional $100-1,000 for studies

Acceptance Rates and Screening

Industry Acceptance Rates

• Human Microbes: Less than 0.5% accepted
• GoodNature: 3% acceptance rate
• OpenBiome: 4% acceptance rate
• Seres: 5-7% acceptance rate
• University programs: 10-15% for research studies

Common Disqualifiers

• BMI over 30 or under 18.5
• Antibiotic use in past 3-6 months
• International travel to high-risk areas
• Chronic gastrointestinal conditions
• Mental health medication use
• History of infectious diseases
• Irregular bowel movements
• Poor diet or lifestyle habits

Donation Logistics

On-Site vs Home Collection

On-Site Donation (Most programs):

• Must donate at facility
• Private bathroom provided
• Immediate sample processing
• Higher quality control
• Time commitment includes travel

Home Collection (Human Microbes only):

• Collection kit shipped to home
• Overnight shipping required
• More convenient but strict protocols
• Must ship within 1 hour of collection

Time Commitment

• Daily commitment: 30-60 minutes including travel
• Weekly commitment: 3-5 donations expected
• Minimum contract: Usually 60 days
• Screening period: 2-4 weeks before first paid donation
• Long-term donors: Many continue for 1-2 years

Health Benefits for Donors

Free Health Monitoring

• Regular blood tests (quarterly)
• Infectious disease screening
• Metabolic panel results
• Microbiome analysis reports
• Early detection of health issues
• Nutritional assessments

Lifestyle Benefits

• Motivation to maintain healthy habits
• Regular health accountability
• Financial incentive for wellness
• Access to health education
• Connection to medical research

Choosing the Right Program

Location Considerations

• Boston area: Most options, highest competition
• Other major cities: Limited to 1-2 programs
• Rural areas: Human Microbes only option
• Commute time: Factor in travel costs and time

Lifestyle Fit

• Students: Flexible programs like OpenBiome work well
• Full-time workers: Early morning or evening programs
• Freelancers: Any program, maximize donations
• Stay-at-home parents: Programs with child-care friendly hours

Future of Stool Donation Programs

Industry Growth

• FDA approval of FMT treatments expanding market
• New programs launching in major cities
• Compensation rates increasing due to demand
• Research applications growing rapidly
• Home collection technology improving

Emerging Programs to Watch

• Vedanta Biosciences: Launching donor program 2025
• Synlogic: Developing synthetic biology applications
• 4D Pharma: UK company expanding to US
• Second Genome: Research-focused program planned

Tips for Maximizing Earnings

Optimization Strategies

• Maintain perfect attendance for bonuses
• Donate at consistent times for routine
• Refer friends for referral bonuses
• Participate in additional research studies
• Track donations for tax purposes
• Maintain excellent health for longevity
• Build relationships with program staff

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Missing donations without notice
• Taking antibiotics without informing program
• International travel without clearance
• Dietary changes affecting sample quality
• Not reporting health changes promptly

Conclusion

The stool donation landscape offers significant earning opportunities for the small percentage of individuals who qualify. GoodNature leads in regular compensation at $75-100 per donation, while Human Microbes offers the highest per-sample rate at $500 for those with exceptional microbiomes. OpenBiome remains the most established program with consistent operations and good donor support.

Success in stool donation requires more than just meeting health criteria - it demands commitment to regular donations, strict adherence to lifestyle requirements, and proximity to donation centers for most programs. The 3-4% acceptance rate reflects the stringent health standards necessary for medical-grade stool banking.

For those who qualify, stool donation can provide $8,000-24,000 in annual income while contributing to life-saving treatments for C. diff patients and advancing microbiome research. Choose programs based on your location, lifestyle compatibility, and compensation goals, understanding that consistency and reliability often matter more than maximizing per-donation rates.