How to Host a Blood Drive

How to Host and Promote a Blood Drive

Hosting  blood drives allows your Rotary Club to provide Service above Self and impact the lives of local patients.
 
The involvement of leadership plays a critical role in the success of any blood or organ donation program. When possible, leading by example as a blood donor is the ultimate model, underscoring the importance of regular blood donations and setting the tone for everyone. It is also important that leaders encourage volunteerism and support the members who manage the Blood Drive/Camp Campaign with support and resources.
 
 

The Top Ten Tips for a Successful Blood Drive

  1. Always inform and consult the Blood Center on how to support and collaborate
  2. Get active and visible support from the top
  3. Set up a good location for the blood drive.
  4. Set a goal for the blood drive.
  5. Appoint blood drive team members who are enthusiastic
  6. Hold regular team meetings
  7. Motivate blood donors face to face and schedule them for specific appointment times.
  8. Provide information and educational materials and don’t forget social media!
  9. Confirm donation appointments.
  10. Take the time to “close out” the drive.
  11. Read through the recommendations and information provided by Carter Blood Care in the Blood Drive Coordinator Toolkit link in the left panel on this page.
 

Best Practices for a Successful Blood Drive 

The following items are our recommended steps for organizing a really successful Blood Drive:
 
  1. Promoting the blood drive
  1. Newsletter announcements and articles at least three weeks prior to blood drive date and up to the day of the drive. Follow-up story (with pictures) after the drive.
  2. Announcements at all meetings
  3. Email to all members at least 2 weeks before the blood drive.
  4. Put up posters at least two weeks before the drive.
  1. Recruiting blood donors
  1. Sign-up tables at events and meetings. Periodically, two weeks prior and up to the day of the drive, the sign-up tables should be strategically placed in high-traffic areas.
  2. Challenge other Rotarian groups/chapters to a competition.
  1. Organizing the blood drive
  1. Find the largest possible room or a convenient location for a mobile bus.
  2. It should be well known, easy to reach and easily accessible.
  3. The space should be well lit and temperature controlled.
  4. It will need to be equipped with at least four electrical outlets.
  5. The space should be cleared of unneeded furniture or equipment prior to the blood drive.
  6. Carter BloodCare will provide snacks and water before and after the donation process. Any additional refreshments may be furnished by the sponsor group.
  1. Volunteer workers
  1. A designated committee of high-energy, committed Rotarians responsible for managing all blood drive donation activities is the cornerstone of any successful program.
  2. Registration coordinators greet and help begin the registration process
  3. Recovery coordinators serve donor refreshments and observe the Rest & Recovery area to ensure donors’ well-being is monitored closely.
 
The single most significant factor for the success of the program is personal motivation of blood and potential organ donors.
 

Promoting Your Blood Drive

 
Promoting your blood drive is key to the overall success and this toolkit was designed to help you spread the word! So how can you effectively promote your drive?
 
  1. In person: Personally ask Rotarians to either sign up to donate or recruit a donor
  2. Email: Spreading the word about your drive throughout your company or organization is easy via email. Check out the example copy for some inspiration and add in your own details. Just copy and paste.
  3. Text: Send the info where everyone is already looking! Send a mass text with short and informative details that allows donors to easily be reminded from the palm of their hand.
  4. Facebook Events: There are so many ways to quickly and easily spread the word online. Facebook events are a great option and allow you to gauge interest and predict turnout with invites and responses.
  5. Social Posts: Share the blood drive social media images and accompanying copy on your channels. Don’t forget to tag @CarterBloodCare and include details like your blood Drive, time, date, location, and a link for donors to sign up!
  6. Flyers: Whether you want to spread general awareness about the need for blood donations or provide detailed information about your upcoming Blood Drive, flyers are available for you to download and print.

Examples and Templates

Flyers: We provided two flyer templated (see left panel).  One is a full page PDF template, ideal if you want to give your print job to a printer.  The second is a Microsoft Word document, which is best for home printing where you might need to adjust the margins.
 
Leave-Behind cards: This is a template or cards that you can give out or leave behind at other Rotary Clubs. You can modify this flyer to include your own QR code to your Blood Drive.  The current code is for presentation purposes only. The back of the card has the Rotary Four-Way Test.
 
Social Media, Test, and Email Templates:  The Share the Need Toolkit link in the left panel provides many excellent examples of Social Media posts, Email templates, Text templates, and motivational videos. Carter Blood Care has granted Rotary District 5790 the right to use these materials for non-profit and educational purposes.