A holder for an implantable medical device (IMD) is disclosed. The holder is configured to hold the IMD in a single, operational orientation when the holder containing the IMD is implanted in a patient. The holder is designed to prevent the IMD from moving within the patient and shifting orientation. The holder may have an opening for receiving a connecting pin, for stimulating electrodes, for example, in a mating orientation with respect to a receptacle contained within the IMD. According to some embodiments, the IMD features a metal housing that can serve as an electrode and the holder is configured with a window to allow a portion of the housing to electrically contact flesh of a patient during operation. Holders for containing a single IMD and holders for containing multiple IMDs are disclosed. Holders for containing multiple IMDs are configured to maintain alignment of the IMDs with respect to each other, for example, a parallel alignment.