*Purpose: Racial/ethnic disparities persist in patients’ access to living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT). Little is known about the relationship between number of potential living donors and transplantation. This study assessed the impact of having available living donors on patients’ access to kidney transplantation and LDKT.

*Methods: We collected demographic and outcomes data from our retrospective and observational prospective clinical trial of wait-listed patients (1/1/2014-12/31/2019) at two kidney transplant programs. Potential recipients were asked about any potential living donors. We analyzed Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White (NHW) transplant candidates’ demographics and their number of available potential donors operationalized as: potential donors’ verbal expression of interest as reported by transplant candidates or their companions during patient evaluation; donors completing a medical health questionnaire; and donors starting evaluation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the impact of potential donors on transplant (transplant versus no transplant and for transplant recipients, LDKT versus deceased donor).

*Results: A total of 847 transplant candidates were included who identified as Hispanic (45.8%) or NHW (54.2%) across Site A (23.1%) and Site B (76.9%). Among candidates linked to a donor(s) who started evaluation, donors’ relationship to candidates were: biological and nonbiological family (Hispanic: 59.6%, NHW: 40.6%), friend/unrelated (Hispanic: 18.4%, NHW: 28.4%), other/unknown (Hispanic: 12.0%, NHW: 31%). For Site A, both Hispanic (adjusted OR=2.26 (95% CI 1.13, 4.53)) and NHW (aOR=2.42 (1.10, 5.33)) candidates with potential donors were more likely to receive a transplant (all types) when compared to candidates with no potential donors. For Site B, we did not observe a significant increase in receiving a transplant for both Hispanic and NHW candidates. For transplant recipients at both sites, Hispanic (Site A: aOR=21.22 (2.44, 184.88): Site 2: 25.54 (7.52, 101.54)) and NHW (Site 1: 37.70 (6.59,215.67)): Site B: 15.18 (5.64, 40.85)) recipients with potential donors were also more likely to receive a LDKT.

*Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the availability of potential living donors signifies a greater likelihood of access to transplantation, particularly LDKT. Transplant programs should encourage patients to bring their biological and non-biological family members particularly among Hispanics, and friends particularly among NHWs, to the transplant evaluation process to be educated about the option of living donation, increase the chance of becoming a potential donor, or to help find other potential donors.

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