Stool Donation Centers Near Me: Complete 2025 Location Guide
Finding a stool donation center near you requires understanding the limited geographic availability of programs, as most require daily in-person donations within a 30-60 minute commute. This comprehensive guide maps all active stool donation facilities across the United States, including compensation rates, requirements, and application processes for each location.
Quick Location Facts
- • Total US locations: 40-50 active centers
- • States with programs: 15-20 states
- • Major hub cities: Boston, NYC, LA, SF, Chicago
- • Required proximity: Usually within 1 hour
- • Most programs: Massachusetts (5+)
- • Remote options: Very limited (Human Microbes only)
Major Stool Donation Programs by Region
Northeast Region
Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts
OpenBiome
- Location: 2067 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
- Pay: $40-50 per donation
- Schedule: M-F 6am-7pm, Sat 8am-2pm
- Requirements: Within 1 hour of Cambridge
- Contact: (617) 575-2201
- Website: openbiome.org/stool-donation
GoodNature (New England Office)
- Location: Downtown Boston (exact address after acceptance)
- Pay: $75-100 per donation
- Schedule: M-F 6am-8pm
- Requirements: Boston metro area residents
- Apply: goodnature.org/donors
New York City Area
Seres Therapeutics Research
- Location: Manhattan (multiple sites)
- Pay: $50 per donation
- Schedule: Flexible hours
- Requirements: NYC residents only
- Contact: Through clinical trial sites
Mount Sinai FMT Program
- Location: Upper East Side
- Pay: $40 per donation
- Schedule: M-F business hours
- Requirements: Manhattan/close boroughs
- Contact: Research coordinator required
West Coast
Los Angeles, California
GoodNature West Coast
- Location: West LA (address upon acceptance)
- Pay: $75-100 per donation
- Schedule: M-F 6am-7pm
- Requirements: LA County residents
- Parking: Validated parking available
UCLA Microbiome Center
- Location: Westwood campus area
- Pay: $50-60 per donation
- Schedule: Research study dependent
- Requirements: Varies by study
- Contact: Through research recruitment
San Francisco Bay Area
Stanford Microbiome Research
- Location: Palo Alto
- Pay: Varies by study ($40-75)
- Schedule: Flexible for students
- Requirements: Bay Area residents
- Parking: Free on campus
UCSF FMT Program
- Location: Mission Bay campus
- Pay: $50 per donation
- Schedule: M-F standard hours
- Requirements: SF/Peninsula residents
- Transit: Near public transportation
Midwest
Chicago, Illinois
University of Chicago Medicine
- Location: Hyde Park campus
- Pay: $45 per donation
- Schedule: M-F 7am-5pm
- Requirements: Chicago metro area
- Parking: Discounted rates available
Northwestern FMT Research
- Location: Downtown Chicago
- Pay: $50-60 per donation
- Schedule: Varies by study
- Requirements: Cook County residents preferred
- Contact: Research coordinator
Minneapolis, Minnesota
University of Minnesota
- Location: Medical campus
- Pay: $40 per donation
- Schedule: M-F business hours
- Requirements: Twin Cities residents
- Note: Pioneer in FMT research
South/Southeast
Atlanta, Georgia
Emory University Hospital
- Location: Clifton campus
- Pay: $45 per donation
- Schedule: Limited hours
- Requirements: Metro Atlanta only
- Status: Intermittent recruitment
Durham, North Carolina
Duke University Medical Center
- Location: Durham campus
- Pay: $40-50 per donation
- Schedule: Research study dependent
- Requirements: Triangle area residents
- Contact: Clinical trials office
Remote Donation Options
Human Microbes - Nationwide
The only program accepting remote donors:
- Pay: $500 per approved sample
- Location: Ship from anywhere in US
- Process: Home collection with overnight shipping
- Acceptance rate: Less than 0.5%
- Requirements: Exceptional microbiome quality
- Website: humanmicrobes.org
- Note: Extremely selective, not guaranteed income
How to Find Centers Near You
Search Strategies
- Check major programs: OpenBiome, GoodNature first
- University hospitals: Search "[city] FMT program"
- Clinical trials: ClinicalTrials.gov for studies
- Research centers: Contact microbiome labs
- GI departments: Call hospital GI units
- Online databases: Microbiome research directories
Questions to Ask Programs
- Current recruitment status?
- Exact location and parking?
- Compensation structure?
- Required donation frequency?
- Maximum commute distance?
- Screening timeline?
- Waitlist availability?
Transportation Considerations
Commute Requirements
- Most programs require <1 hour commute
- Daily travel 3-5 times per week
- Morning donations often required
- Rush hour traffic considerations
- Parking costs may not be covered
- Public transit sometimes preferred
Cost-Benefit Analysis
| Distance | Weekly Gas | Time Cost | Net Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 miles | $25 | 5 hours | Excellent |
| 25 miles | $60 | 10 hours | Good |
| 40 miles | $100 | 15 hours | Marginal |
| 60+ miles | $150+ | 20+ hours | Poor |
Upcoming and Expanding Programs
New Locations 2025
- GoodNature expansion: Seattle, Denver planned
- Phoenix: Mayo Clinic considering program
- Houston: MD Anderson research starting
- Philadelphia: Penn Medicine recruiting
- Portland: OHSU program development
- Miami: University of Miami planning
Industry Growth Trends
- 20% annual growth in donation centers
- FDA approval driving expansion
- More hospitals starting programs
- Commercial companies expanding
- Research funding increasing
- Patient demand growing rapidly
Special Programs and Studies
Research-Only Programs
- NIH Clinical Center: Bethesda, MD (varies)
- Cleveland Clinic: Ohio (intermittent)
- Mayo Clinic: Rochester, MN (selective)
- Johns Hopkins: Baltimore (research focus)
- Cedars-Sinai: Los Angeles (studies)
University Student Programs
- MIT/Harvard: Access to OpenBiome
- Stanford: On-campus collection
- UC Berkeley: Bay Area programs
- Columbia/NYU: NYC opportunities
- Yale: New Haven studies
Application Strategies by Location
High Competition Areas
Boston/Cambridge: Most competitive due to student population
- Apply to multiple programs simultaneously
- Emphasize schedule flexibility
- Highlight proximity to facility
- Consider less popular time slots
San Francisco: Tech worker competition
- Emphasize morning availability
- Flexible work schedule advantage
- Consider Peninsula locations
Lower Competition Areas
- Midwest cities: Fewer applicants
- Research hospitals: Specialized needs
- Suburban locations: Less convenient
- Early morning slots: Less desired
Making Location Work for You
Relocation Considerations
- Some donors relocate temporarily
- Sublet near donation center
- Combine with remote work
- University areas offer short-term housing
- Calculate total earnings vs. costs
Schedule Optimization
- Morning routine before work
- Lunch break donations (if close)
- Combine with gym/errands
- Batch other appointments
- Work from facility WiFi after
Location Checklist
Before committing to a program:
- ✓ Calculate total commute time and cost
- ✓ Verify parking availability and fees
- ✓ Check public transit options
- ✓ Confirm donation schedule flexibility
- ✓ Test commute during required times
- ✓ Factor in weather/seasonal changes
- ✓ Consider backup transportation
- ✓ Calculate net earnings after expenses
International Options
Programs Outside the US
- Canada: Toronto, Vancouver programs
- UK: London, Birmingham facilities
- Australia: Sydney, Melbourne centers
- Netherlands: Amsterdam research
- Singapore: Growing programs
- Note: Requirements and pay vary significantly
Red Flags to Avoid
Legitimate vs. Questionable Programs
Warning signs of questionable programs:
- No physical address provided
- Payment upfront required
- No medical oversight mentioned
- Unrealistic payment promises ($1000+)
- No screening process described
- Home collection without oversight
- No established medical institution
Conclusion
Finding a stool donation center near you requires living within commuting distance of one of the approximately 40-50 active facilities across the United States, with the highest concentrations in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Most programs require daily in-person donations 3-5 times weekly, making proximity essential for sustainable participation.
The limited geographic availability means many interested donors cannot participate, though the industry is expanding with new locations planned for 2025 and beyond. Human Microbes offers the only remote option but accepts less than 0.5% of applicants and doesn't guarantee regular income.
Success in stool donation depends not just on meeting health requirements but also on practical logistics - living close enough to make daily donations feasible while maintaining work and life obligations. For those fortunate enough to live near an active program, the combination of significant compensation and medical contribution makes donation an attractive opportunity worth pursuing.
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