Global Blood Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO WORK WITH LOW AND MIDDLE HDI COUNTRIES TO ENSURE A SAFE AND SUFFICIENT BLOOD SUPPLY FOR ALL BY PROMOTING VOLUNTARY NON-REMUNERATED BLOOD DONATION TO HELP PREVENT THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DEATHS THAT RESULT EACH YEAR FROM BLOOD SHORTAGES.
- Income
- $333,673
- Spending
- $235,569
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 13.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $910,905, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 161% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (7)
- $69,843 spent. NON-EQUIPMENT BASED SUPPORT FORMS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF GBF'S OVERALL PACKAGE OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITY. GBF WORKED WITH A NEW PARTNER IN GHANA - VILLAGE OF HOPE - TO EQUIP A NEW BLOOD BANK IN THEIR HOSPITAL FACILITY. ALL EQUIPMENT NEEDED AND A SUPPLY OF CONSUMABLES WERE PROCURED ON THEIR BEHALF. ENRICHING THE NARRATIVE AROUND THE POWER OF BLOOD TO SAVE AND CHANGE LIVES IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN BLOOD DONATION ACTIVITY. TO THIS END, GBF RAN TWO 'STORY CONTESTS' OVER THE PERIOD, IN NIGERIA AND NAMIBIA. BUILDING ON EARLIER SUCCESSES, THE APPROACH HAS EVOLVED FROM SOLICITING WRITTEN TESTIMONIALS TO EXCOURAGING AUDIO AND VIDEO CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH ARE MOPE EASILY SHARED AND IMPACTFUL ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. THROUGH AGREEMENT WITH HEMA-QUEBEC IN CANADA, A VERSION OF THEIR VIDEO '130-FOR-1' WAS RECAPTIONED AND DONATED FOR USE IN NAMIBIA. SCOPING TOOK PLACE OF A PROGRAM TO EXCOURAGE C-SUITE STAFF IN US-BASED BLOOD ORGANIZATIONS TO VISIT AFRICA TO BETTER UNDERSTAND GLOBAL DISPARTITIES AND BECOME MORE ENGAGED AND EMPOWERED TO EFFECT CHANGE. THE PROGRAM DID NOT LAUNCH BUT IS UNDER REVIEW FOR FUTURE INTRODUCTION.
- $43,652 spent. RE-HOMING OF DISPLACED EQUIPMENT RETAINED ITS STATUS AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROGRAMS. GBF OWNS AND MANAGES 'EqXCHANGE', A CLOUD-BASED PLATFORM ENABLING BLOOD SERVICES WORLDWIDE TO LIST EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FOR DONATION. THIS TYPICALLY BECOMES AVAILABLE WHERE ITEMS ARE DISPLACED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF ROUTINE UPGRADE PROGRAMS, LEAVING STILL-SERVICEABLE EQUIPMENT SURPLUS TO LOCAL REQUIREMENTS. ONCE A MATCH IS MADE BETWEEN DONOR AND RECIPIENT, GBF MANAGES AND RESOURCES THE LOGISTICS OF RE-HOMING. DONATIONS MOSTLY COME FROM THE US AND EUROPE. RECIPIENTS ARE TYPICALLY BLOOD SERVICES IN AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA, AND ASIA. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, WORK WAS COMPLETED ON BUILDING NEW FUNCTIONALITY INTO THE PLATFORM IN ORDER TO BETTER ENGAGE WITH LARGER, MORE COMPLEX ENTITTIES. EXAMPLES OF 2024/25 ACTIVITY INCLUDE 118 HF400 BLOOD MIXURES SENT TO EL SALVADOR, CENTRIFUGES AND DONOR BEDS TO MEXICO AND A CONTAINER OF 13,000 'BLOOD DONOR'-BRANDED GARMENTS SENT TO GHANA.
- $34,922 spent. THE MENTORING PROGRAM LAUNCHED LAST YEAR IS DESIGNED TO LEVERAGE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF SEASONED BLOOD BANKING PROFESSIONALS IN THE US AND EUROPE, TO HELP PROFESSIONAL COUNTERPARTS IN LOW-HDI SETTINGS. THE PILOT HAD SOME SUCCESS BUT RAN UP AGAINST THE ISSUE OF LIMITED C-SUITE SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING SEEN AS NON-CORE BY THE EMPLOYING ORGANIZATIONS OF POTENTIAL MENTORS. A VARIATION WAS ADOPTED WHEREBY THE TARGET MENTORS WERE RETIRED OR SOON-TO-BE-RETIRED PERSONNEL. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE FELT MORE LIKELY TO HAVE THE TIME AND ALSO MOTIVATION NOT TO LET THEIR LIFTIME OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE ATROPHY. IMPORTANTLY, EMPLOYERS SHOULD WELCOME THE DUTY-OF-CARE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST MEMBERS OF THEIR TEAM EXITING THE ORGANIZATION TO PREPARE FOR RETIREMENT. THE CONTRACT WITH 'TOGETHER' - A COMMERCIAL PLATFORM - WAS ALLOWED TO LAPSE AS IT WAS PERCEIVED TO ADD LIMITED VALUE. GBF CONTINUES TO PROMOTE ITS ONLINE TRAINING COURSE FOCUSED ON DONOR RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND MANAGEMENT. THIS REMOTE LEARNING INITIATIVE OFFERS SIX HOURS/12 MODULES OF FREE VIDEO CONTENT. SEVERAL HUNDRED ENROLLEES HAVE NOW COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AND IT CONTINUES TO ATTRACT SIGNIFICANT INTEREST AND ENGAGEMENT AND WIDESPREAD APPROBATION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BLOOD BANKING COMMUNITY.
- $17,461 spent. MUCH OF GBF'S ACTIVITY RELATES TO ITS ABILITY TO CREATE AND GALVANIZE NETWORKS IN THE US, EUROPE, AND AUSTRALASIA (NATIONAL AND REGIONAL BLOOD SERVICES, INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS, REGULATORY BODIES ETC.) TO ASSIST DEVELOPING-WORLD BLOOD COLLECTION ORGANIZATIONS. WORKING BOTH DIRECTLY AND THROUGH PAN-NATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, GBF IS ABLE TO ASSEMBLE MULTI-AGENCY COLLABORATIONS, WITH OBJECTIVES AND CONFIGURATIONS DIFFERING BY PROJECT. OVER THE PERIOD, CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WERE NURTURED WITH AfSBT (AFRICA SOCIETY FOR BLOOD TRANSFUSION), ISBT (INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR BLOOD TRANSFUSION), COBA (COALITION OF BLOOD FOR AFRICA), AABB (ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF BLOOD AND BIOTHERAPIES), ADRP (ASSOCIATION OF BLOOD DONOR PROFESSIONALS), GCIAMT (GRUPO COOPERATIVO IBEROAMERICANO DE MEDICINA TRANSFUSIONAL), ETC. IN MARCH 2024 AN MOU WAS SIGNED WITH AABB, FORMALLY EXTENDING AND RECOMMITTING TO THE EXISTING PARTNERSHIP. IN FEBRUARY 2025 THE GBF BOARD WAS STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE ADDITION OF A DIRECTOR REPRESENTING TERUMO BCT, A MAJOR INDUSTRY SUPPLIER. THIS ILLUSTRATES THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO CREATE A VALUE-ADDING CONFLUENCE OF PARTNERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE AND IS AN APPROACH UPON WHICH THE CHARITY WILL TRY TO BUILD IN THE FUTURE.
- $8,730 spent. A TRADITIONAL MAINSTAY OF GBF'S FUNDRAISING APPROACH HAS BEEN THE "OPEN ARMS" PROGRAM, WHICH GIVES BLOOD CENTERS ACROSS THE U.S. AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THEIR BLOOD DONORS A CHARITABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE USUAL RECOGNITION ITEMS OF PRINTED T-SHIRTS, ETC. THIS PROGRAM CREATES A VIRTUOUS CIRCLE OF ACTIVITY SUCH AS IMPROVING DONOR CHOICE, MOTIVATING COLLECTION STAFF, SAVING BLOOD CENTERS MONEY, PROVIDING A DIVERSITY PLATFORM TO ENCOURAGE BLOOD DONATION FROM MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORK IN AN AREA OF INTEREST TO ALL PARTIES. HOWEVER, PARTICIPATION HAS WANED AS BLOOD CENTER BECOME MORE SELF-DIRECTED IN THEIR USE OF CHARITABLE FUNDING. THIS HAS INCREASED RELIANCE ON EXTERNAL DONATIONS, PRIMARILY FROM ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE BLOOD BANKING ECOSYSTEM. THE LAUNCH LAST YEAR OF 'FRIENDS OF GLOBAL BLOOD FUND' WAS DESIGNED. THROUGH FORWARD COMMITMENT, TO BRING MORE CERTAINTY TO THIS INCOME STREAM. BUT THERE IS SEEMINGLY A RELUCTANCE - SOMETIMES FOLLOWING LEGAL ADVICE - TO COMMIT TO SUCH FUTURE DONATIONS, AND SO THE CHALLENGE OF ACCURATE BUDGETING IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES REMAINS. A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WERE MADE FOR GRANTS TO FUND SCOPED PROJECTS, BUT NONE WERE SUCCESSFUL. THE TEXT-TO-GIVE SERVICE, LONG USED BY GBF, CLOSED DURING THE PERIOD, DEPRIVING THE CHARITY OF FUTURE REVENUES THROUGH THIS CHANNEL. GBF ENGAGED IN TWO ROUNDS OF CROWDFUNDING TO RESOURCE ITS COMMITMENTS TO VILLAGE OF HOPE AND TO MANAGE THE LOGISTICS OF GETTING THE GARMENT DONATION TO GHANA. THIS WAS SUCCESSFUL AND WILL BECOME A MORE ROUTINE PART OF THE FUNDRAISING MIX IN THE FUTURE. GBF IS THE DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY OF A PERCENTAGE OF REVENUES FROM OTHER INITIATIVES; NAMELY REVIVR, DONABLE AND MISSION MARKET. FUNDING FROM THESE STREAMS IS MODEST AT PRESENT, BUT WILL GROW AS AND WHEN THESE PROJECTS BECOME MORE ESTABLISHED. GBF HELD A T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST, WITH THE WINNING DESIGN BEING USED ON A GARMENT THAT WAS THEN OFFERED FOR SALE. THIS RAISED MODEST ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
- (Expenses $ 17,461 including grants of $ 3,086) MUCH OF GBF'S ACTIVITY RELATES TO ITS ABILITY TO CREATE AND GALVANIZE NETWORKS IN THE US, EUROPE, AND AUSTRALASIA (NATIONAL AND REGIONAL BLOOD SERVICES, INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS, REGULATORY BODIES ETC.) TO ASSIST DEVELOPING-WORLD BLOOD COLLECTION ORGANIZATIONS. WORKING BOTH DIRECTLY AND THROUGH PAN-NATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, GBF IS ABLE TO ASSEMBLE MULTI-AGENCY COLLABORATIONS, WITH OBJECTIVES AND CONFIGURATIONS DIFFERING BY PROJECT. OVER THE PERIOD, CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WERE NURTURED WITH AfSBT (AFRICA SOCIETY FOR BLOOD TRANSFUSION), ISBT (INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR BLOOD TRANSFUSION), COBA (COALITION OF BLOOD FOR AFRICA), AABB (ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF BLOOD AND BIOTHERAPIES), ADRP (ASSOCIATION OF BLOOD DONOR PROFESSIONALS), GCIAMT (GRUPO COOPERATIVO IBEROAMERICANO DE MEDICINA TRANSFUSIONAL), ETC. IN MARCH 2024 AN MOU WAS SIGNED WITH AABB, FORMALLY EXTENDING AND RECOMMITTING TO THE EXISTING PARTNERSHIP. IN FEBRUARY 2025 THE GBF BOARD WAS STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE ADDITION OF A DIRECTOR REPRESENTING TERUMO BCT, A MAJOR INDUSTRY SUPPLIER. THIS ILLUSTRATES THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO CREATE A VALUE-ADDING CONFLUENCE OF PARTNERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE AND IS AN APPROACH UPON WHICH THE CHARITY WILL TRY TO BUILD IN THE FUTURE.
- (Expenses $ 8,730 including grants of $ 1,543) A TRADITIONAL MAINSTAY OF GBF'S FUNDRAISING APPROACH HAS BEEN THE "OPEN ARMS" PROGRAM, WHICH GIVES BLOOD CENTERS ACROSS THE U.S. AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THEIR BLOOD DONORS A CHARITABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE USUAL RECOGNITION ITEMS OF PRINTED T-SHIRTS, ETC. THIS PROGRAM CREATES A VIRTUOUS CIRCLE OF ACTIVITY SUCH AS IMPROVING DONOR CHOICE, MOTIVATING COLLECTION STAFF, SAVING BLOOD CENTERS MONEY, PROVIDING A DIVERSITY PLATFORM TO ENCOURAGE BLOOD DONATION FROM MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORK IN AN AREA OF INTEREST TO ALL PARTIES. HOWEVER, PARTICIPATION HAS WANED AS BLOOD CENTER BECOME MORE SELF-DIRECTED IN THEIR USE OF CHARITABLE FUNDING. THIS HAS INCREASED RELIANCE ON EXTERNAL DONATIONS, PRIMARILY FROM ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE BLOOD BANKING ECOSYSTEM. THE LAUNCH LAST YEAR OF 'FRIENDS OF GLOBAL BLOOD FUND' WAS DESIGNED. THROUGH FORWARD COMMITMENT, TO BRING MORE CERTAINTY TO THIS INCOME STREAM. BUT THERE IS SEEMINGLY A RELUCTANCE - SOMETIMES FOLLOWING LEGAL ADVICE - TO COMMIT TO SUCH FUTURE DONATIONS, AND SO THE CHALLENGE OF ACCURATE BUDGETING IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES REMAINS. A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WERE MADE FOR GRANTS TO FUND SCOPED PROJECTS, BUT NONE WERE SUCCESSFUL. THE TEXT-TO-GIVE SERVICE, LONG USED BY GBF, CLOSED DURING THE PERIOD, DEPRIVING THE CHARITY OF FUTURE REVENUES THROUGH THIS CHANNEL. GBF ENGAGED IN TWO ROUNDS OF CROWDFUNDING TO RESOURCE ITS COMMITMENTS TO VILLAGE OF HOPE AND TO MANAGE THE LOGISTICS OF GETTING THE GARMENT DONATION TO GHANA. THIS WAS SUCCESSFUL AND WILL BECOME A MORE ROUTINE PART OF THE FUNDRAISING MIX IN THE FUTURE. GBF IS THE DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY OF A PERCENTAGE OF REVENUES FROM OTHER INITIATIVES; NAMELY REVIVR, DONABLE AND MISSION MARKET. FUNDING FROM THESE STREAMS IS MODEST AT PRESENT, BUT WILL GROW AS AND WHEN THESE PROJECTS BECOME MORE ESTABLISHED. GBF HELD A T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST, WITH THE WINNING DESIGN BEING USED ON A GARMENT THAT WAS THEN OFFERED FOR SALE. THIS RAISED MODEST ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on October 15, 2011.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.