Oklahoma Blood Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OKLAHOMA BLOOD INSTITUTE'S (OBI) MISSION IS TO BE THE DONOR-TO-PATIENT LIFELINE BY PROVIDING OUR COMMUNITIES AND MEDICAL PARTNERS SECURITY BY MEETING BLOOD TRANSFUSION AND HEALTH CARE NEEDS.
- Income
- $155.9 million
- Spending
- $149.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 1,406
- Volunteers
- 4,350
- 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 24 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 (5)
- $113.1 million spent. SERVICE FEES FOR BLOOD PRODUCTS: AS THE SIXTH-LARGEST BLOOD CENTER IN THE U.S, OBI COLLECTS, TESTS, PROCESSES, AND DISTRIBUTES MORE THAN 450,000 LIFE-SAVING BLOOD PRODUCTS ANNUALLY IN 16 BLOOD DONATION CENTERS ACROSS OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS, AND TEXAS. OUR COMPLEX TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND RARE MEDICAL EXPERTISE ALLOW OBI TO PROVIDE SAFE AND ADEQUATE BLOOD TO PATIENTS AT MORE THAN 230 AREA HOSPITALS, MEDICAL FACILITIES, AND AIR AMBULANCES ACROSS ALL THREE STATES. OUR RIGOROUS SAFETY MEASURES AND THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF OUR MEDICAL LABORATORY STAFF ENSURE THAT THE DONATED BLOOD IS SAFE AND AVAILABLE TO SAVE LIVES.
- $10.6 million spent. TESTING SERVICES: WHILE MANY BLOOD CENTERS OUTSOURCE THEIR TESTING, OBI MAINTAINS AN INHOUSE TESTING LABORATORY TO PROVIDE A RAPID RESPONSE TO PROCESSING UNITS. WITH EVERY DONATION, OUR DILIGENT LABORATORY STAFF PERFORMS MULTIPLE TESTS TO ENSURE BLOOD PRODUCTS ARE SAFE AND READY TO BE TRANSFUSED TO LOCAL PATIENTS. AS A FULLY LICENSED AND CERTIFIED LABORATORY, OBI MAINTAINS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AND LEADS THE NATION IN APPLYING CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE THE SAFEST BLOOD PRODUCTS POSSIBLE. OBI'S TESTING LABORATORY PROVIDES A WIDE SCOPE OF SAFETY TESTING FOR SEVERAL BLOOD-BORN CONDITIONS, LIKE HIV, HEPATITIS C, AND WEST NILE VIRUS, TO ENSURE BLOOD PRODUCTS ARE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY. IF ANY SAMPLE IS POSITIVE FOR THESE ISSUES, OUR STAFF WILL NOTIFY THE DONOR AND REFER THEM FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING AND TREATMENT. AFTER THE BLOOD SAMPLE HAS BEEN CLEARED, ADDITIONAL HEALTH SCREENING TESTING IS PERFORMED. FOR EXAMPLE, WE TEST THE CHOLESTEROL LEVEL OF EVERY DONOR AS PART OF OUR STANDARD DONATION PROCESS. IN ADDITION TO OUR ROUTINE TESTING OF UNITS FOR OUR HOSPITAL PARTNERS, WE ALSO WORK TOGETHER TO ASSIST OTHER BLOOD CENTERS, CLINICS, AND ORGAN DONATION ORGANIZATIONS WITH NEEDED TESTING. OUR LABORATORY'S TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES THESE CLIENTS WITH THE IMPECCABLY EFFICIENT TURNAROUND REQUIRED FOR HIGHLY SPECIALIZED BLOOD TESTING. MAINTAINING STRICT AABB-ACCREDITATION AND FDA-LICENSING STANDARDS, OUR LAB PROVIDES NUCLEIC ACID TESTING AND SEROLOGICAL AND VIRAL MARKER SCREENING TESTS, INCLUDING A WIDE RANGE OF SCREENING ASSAYS. CONFIRMATORY/SUPPLEMENTAL ASSAYS AND REFERRAL TESTING SERVICES ARE ALSO OFFERED.
- $3.3 million spent. PATIENT CARE REVENUE: THERAPEUTIC APHERESIS SERVICES FOR PATIENTS AT AREA HOSPITALS ARE PROVIDED BY SPECIALLY TRAINED REGISTERED NURSES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF TRANSFUSION MEDICINE PHYSICIANS. PATIENTS UNDERGO TREATMENTS THAT REMOVE HARMFUL PROTEINS, CHEMICALS OR CELLS IN THE BLOOD THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A VARIETY OF LIFE-THREATENING DISEASES OR TRANSPLANT COMPLICATIONS. BASED ON PATIENTS' CONDITIONS, SPECIFIC OFFENDING AGENTS OR COMPONENTS OF THE BLOOD ARE ISOLATED AND IRRADIATED OR REMOVED. AFTER THIS INTRICATE PROCESSING, PATIENTS RECEIVE THEIR TREATED BLOOD TO RESTORE HEALTH.
- $501,053 spent. THESE OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES ARE BLOOD PRODUCT DERIVATIVES. DERIVATIVES ARE A PRODUCT MANUFACTURED FROM A RAW MATERIAL BYPRODUCT OF BLOOD COLLECTION. OBI COLLECTS THIS MATERIAL, WHICH IS UNUSABLE FOR BLOOD TRANSFUSION, AND DISTRIBUTES THIS BYPRODUCT TO PLASMA MANUFACTURERS WHICH, IN TURN, USE IT IN THE PRODUCTION OF A BIOLOGICAL DRUG. REVENUE FOR THIS PROGRAM IS $363,515 WITH OFFSETTING EXPENSES TOTALING $302,514. THE CELL THERAPY PROGRAM INVOLVES COLLECTIONS OF STEM CELLS AND CORD BLOOD FROM PATIENTS, TESTING, AND MANUFACTURING THE PRODUCTS FOR PATIENT USE. REVENUE FOR THIS PROGRAM IS $473,254 WITH OFFSETTING EXPENSES TOTALING $831,738. OBI MANAGES THE LIFE-SAVING BLOOD DONATIONS OF MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE IN THE REGION EACH YEAR. THESE UNITS OF BLOOD ARE EVENTUALLY DELIVERED TO PATIENTS ACROSS THE REGION, BUT NOT BEFORE UNDERGOING AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF FDA-REGULATED PROCESSING AND TESTING FOR DONOR AND BLOOD RECIPIENT SAFETY. VOLUNTEER BLOOD DONORS GIVE WHAT CAN'T BE CREATED AND PROVIDED BY ANY OTHER MEANS. OBI RECRUITS DONORS AND PROVIDES SKILLED MEDICAL STAFF, TECHNOLOGY, AND FACILITIES TO COLLECT BLOOD FROM DONORS. LAB PROFESSIONALS UNDER THE MEDICAL SUPERVISION OF PHYSICIANS PREPARE THE BLOOD FOR TRANSFUSION AND ADMINISTER MULTIPLE SAFETY TESTS. ALL MUST BE DONE WITH UTMOST URGENCY AND AROUND THE CLOCK SINCE BLOOD HAS A VERY LIMITED TIME FOR USE. OBI ADMINISTERS FIVE LAYERS OF SAFETY PROCEDURES - BLOOD DONOR ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS, INDIVIDUAL SCREENING, LABORATORY TESTING, CONFIDENTIAL EXCLUSION OF DONATIONS AND DONOR RECORD CHECKS. EXTENSIVE COMPLIANCE AND TECHNICAL TENURE ARE REQUIRED TO GET BLOOD FROM A DONOR TO A PATIENT. BLOOD CENTERS ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER ENTITIES ON QUALITY CONTROL AND TRACKING. AN ENTIRE TEAM MANAGES THE SUPPLY LOGISTICS WITH EVERY MEDICAL FACILITY SERVED SO THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT BLOOD AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR PATIENTS. THIS CAN FLUCTUATE GREATLY, EVEN WITHIN A FEW HOURS. COURIERS TRAVEL MORE THAN SIX MILLION MILES EACH YEAR TO TRANSPORT DONATED BLOOD TO CENTRAL LABS AND HOSPITALS WITH ACCURACY AND EFFICIENCY, LEAVING NO NEED UNMET, REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION OR TRAVEL CONDITIONS. HOSPITALS AND PATIENTS ARE NOT CHARGED FOR THE DONATED BLOOD ITSELF. EXPENSES ARE RECOVERED THROUGH A SERVICE FEE FOR EMPLOYEE WAGES, FUEL, VEHICLES, ADVANCED TESTING EQUIPMENT AND BLOOD PROCESSING AS SUMMARIZED ABOVE. OBI'S FEES AND QUALITY HAVE MADE IT THE CHOSEN, SOLE SUPPLIER FOR MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF OKLAHOMA'S BLOOD SUPPLY, AS WELL AS MORE THAN 40 ARKANSAS HOSPITALS, EIGHT HOSPITALS IN THE TEXOMA REGION AND MOST HOSPITALS IN THE TEXAS HIGH PLAINS REGION. IT REQUIRES 24/7, 365 DAYS-A-YEAR STAFFING AND OPERATIONS, MUCH LIKE AREA HOSPITALS. IN ADDITION TO THESE SERVICES, OBI PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN TRAUMA CARE. TYPE O WHOLE BLOOD, CONTAINING RED CELLS, PLATELETS, AND PLASMA, IS CRUCIAL IN TRAUMA BECAUSE IT CAN BE SAFELY USED FOR PATIENTS OF ANY BLOOD TYPE. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS UNDERSCORED BY ITS SUCCESS IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WHERE WHOLE BLOOD WAS INTRODUCED TO EMS IN 2023. FROM ITS LAUNCH IN FEBRUARY 2023 TO JUNE 2024, OKC EMS PROVIDERS HAVE ADMINISTERED WHOLE BLOOD TO 58 PATIENTS ON-SITE BEFORE HOSPITAL ARRIVAL, WITH 48 SURVIVING TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ADMISSION AND 34 EVENTUALLY BEING DISCHARGED.
- (Expenses $ 501,053 including grants of $ 501,053)(Revenue $ 2,062,730) THESE OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES ARE BLOOD PRODUCT DERIVATIVES. DERIVATIVES ARE A PRODUCT MANUFACTURED FROM A RAW MATERIAL BYPRODUCT OF BLOOD COLLECTION. OBI COLLECTS THIS MATERIAL, WHICH IS UNUSABLE FOR BLOOD TRANSFUSION, AND DISTRIBUTES THIS BYPRODUCT TO PLASMA MANUFACTURERS WHICH, IN TURN, USE IT IN THE PRODUCTION OF A BIOLOGICAL DRUG. REVENUE FOR THIS PROGRAM IS $363,515 WITH OFFSETTING EXPENSES TOTALING $302,514. THE CELL THERAPY PROGRAM INVOLVES COLLECTIONS OF STEM CELLS AND CORD BLOOD FROM PATIENTS, TESTING, AND MANUFACTURING THE PRODUCTS FOR PATIENT USE. REVENUE FOR THIS PROGRAM IS $473,254 WITH OFFSETTING EXPENSES TOTALING $831,738. OBI MANAGES THE LIFE-SAVING BLOOD DONATIONS OF MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE IN THE REGION EACH YEAR. THESE UNITS OF BLOOD ARE EVENTUALLY DELIVERED TO PATIENTS ACROSS THE REGION, BUT NOT BEFORE UNDERGOING AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF FDA-REGULATED PROCESSING AND TESTING FOR DONOR AND BLOOD RECIPIENT SAFETY. VOLUNTEER BLOOD DONORS GIVE WHAT CAN'T BE CREATED AND PROVIDED BY ANY OTHER MEANS. OBI RECRUITS DONORS AND PROVIDES SKILLED MEDICAL STAFF, TECHNOLOGY, AND FACILITIES TO COLLECT BLOOD FROM DONORS. LAB PROFESSIONALS UNDER THE MEDICAL SUPERVISION OF PHYSICIANS PREPARE THE BLOOD FOR TRANSFUSION AND ADMINISTER MULTIPLE SAFETY TESTS. ALL MUST BE DONE WITH UTMOST URGENCY AND AROUND THE CLOCK SINCE BLOOD HAS A VERY LIMITED TIME FOR USE. OBI ADMINISTERS FIVE LAYERS OF SAFETY PROCEDURES - BLOOD DONOR ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS, INDIVIDUAL SCREENING, LABORATORY TESTING, CONFIDENTIAL EXCLUSION OF DONATIONS AND DONOR RECORD CHECKS. EXTENSIVE COMPLIANCE AND TECHNICAL TENURE ARE REQUIRED TO GET BLOOD FROM A DONOR TO A PATIENT. BLOOD CENTERS ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER ENTITIES ON QUALITY CONTROL AND TRACKING. AN ENTIRE TEAM MANAGES THE SUPPLY LOGISTICS WITH EVERY MEDICAL FACILITY SERVED SO THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT BLOOD AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR PATIENTS. THIS CAN FLUCTUATE GREATLY, EVEN WITHIN A FEW HOURS. COURIERS TRAVEL MORE THAN SIX MILLION MILES EACH YEAR TO TRANSPORT DONATED BLOOD TO CENTRAL LABS AND HOSPITALS WITH ACCURACY AND EFFICIENCY, LEAVING NO NEED UNMET, REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION OR TRAVEL CONDITIONS. HOSPITALS AND PATIENTS ARE NOT CHARGED FOR THE DONATED BLOOD ITSELF. EXPENSES ARE RECOVERED THROUGH A SERVICE FEE FOR EMPLOYEE WAGES, FUEL, VEHICLES, ADVANCED TESTING EQUIPMENT AND BLOOD PROCESSING AS SUMMARIZED ABOVE. OBI'S FEES AND QUALITY HAVE MADE IT THE CHOSEN, SOLE SUPPLIER FOR MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF OKLAHOMA'S BLOOD SUPPLY, AS WELL AS MORE THAN 40 ARKANSAS HOSPITALS, EIGHT HOSPITALS IN THE TEXOMA REGION AND MOST HOSPITALS IN THE TEXAS HIGH PLAINS REGION. IT REQUIRES 24/7, 365 DAYS-A-YEAR STAFFING AND OPERATIONS, MUCH LIKE AREA HOSPITALS. IN ADDITION TO THESE SERVICES, OBI PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN TRAUMA CARE. TYPE O WHOLE BLOOD, CONTAINING RED CELLS, PLATELETS, AND PLASMA, IS CRUCIAL IN TRAUMA BECAUSE IT CAN BE SAFELY USED FOR PATIENTS OF ANY BLOOD TYPE. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS UNDERSCORED BY ITS SUCCESS IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WHERE WHOLE BLOOD WAS INTRODUCED TO EMS IN 2023. FROM ITS LAUNCH IN FEBRUARY 2023 TO JUNE 2024, OKC EMS PROVIDERS HAVE ADMINISTERED WHOLE BLOOD TO 58 PATIENTS ON-SITE BEFORE HOSPITAL ARRIVAL, WITH 48 SURVIVING TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ADMISSION AND 34 EVENTUALLY BEING DISCHARGED.
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 November 1977.
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.