How to Host a Blood Drive
Why Become a Blood Drive Coordinator?
Why not? Coordinating a blood drive has many benefits:
- It is a great community service project
- It offers a wonderful team-building opportunity for local businesses and organizations
- It allows you to be a part of the life-saving team that is Inova Blood Donor Services
How to Plan a Drive
1. Harness Your Potential and Build Momentum!
- Gather potential donors (at least 38)
- Circulate a Donor Commitment Form
- Follow-up with your assigned Account Manager
2. Create the Drive (3-5 months before desired blood drive time-frame)
- Select a date and time
- Secure an appropriate venue (bloodmobile or inside set-up)
- Set a goal for the blood drive.
3. Build the Drive (8-12 weeks before the event)
- Gather other volunteers to assist with recruiting efforts
- Work with Account Manager on a strategy to educate and motivate donors
- Work on logistics (equipment, volunteers and other resources needed to run the drive)
4. Recruit and Schedule Your Donors (3-6 weeks before the event)
- Post your IBDS marketing materials in prominent areas throughout your neighborhoods and communities to advertise your upcoming blood drive
- Set up your blood drive online
- Encourage donors to schedule appointments in person, by email and on marketing materials
5. Final Details (3-7 days before the event)
- Confirm donor appointments
- Confirm volunteer assignments/duties/posts
- Verify the status of the venue’s accommodations for donors, staff and equipment
- Check-in with your Account Manager for any last minute details
6. The Big Day! Your IBDS Blood Drive
- Designate someone (yourself or a volunteer) to meet with the mobile operations team to set-up equipment/displays before the event
- Designate volunteers to staff the registration table for the duration of the blood drive
- Contact donors who miss their appointments
7. Blood Drive Wrap-Up (1-2 weeks after the event)
- Recognize and thank donors for their gift
- Send/post results from the blood drive
- Remind donors that they are eligible to donate whole blood in 56 days and double red cells in 112 days
- Confirm or schedule the next blood drive
