Strategies for increasing blood donations at blood drives

Management Support and Internal Communication to Meet Goals

• Senior Management donates blood the day of the drive if possible
  
  
• CEO and/or Sponsor Executive build relationship with Blood Drive Committee Chair to set clear goals and objectives for blood drives
  
  

• Both CEO and/or Sponsor Executive and Blood Drive Committee Chair be aware of past blood drive performance history to properly forecast future goal attainment
  
  
• Inviting your Red Cross Account Manager to speak at upcoming management meetings
  
  
• CEO/Upper Management shows public-support: sends e-mails to employees, submits newsletter articles, and makes phone calls to key management team members.
  
  
• Support from upper management to help develop and/or increase recruitment team efforts
  
  
• Any hindering site issues or any unresolved customer service issues that may have occurred with either parties (Red Cross or sponsor) be brought forward so issues can be resolved immediately
  
  
• CEO/Upper Management allows employees the necessary time to donate
  
  

Recruitment/Incentives/Promotions

• Post Red Cross promotional materials about the importance of sponsoring blood drives and donating
  
  

• Get volunteers involved with recruiting and helping out with drive
  
  
• Recruitment Team comprised of current donors
  
  
• Offer incentives for being on hospital recruitment team and donating blood
  
  
• Make as many appointments as possible before the drive occurs
  
  
• Distribute flyers in payroll as reminder of blood drive
  
  
• Cafeteria sign-up, high-volume public area to recruit donors for the drive
  
  
• Using the Public Address system to announce drive every half hour to increase show rate of donors
  
  
• Acquire support from Red Cross Chapters when applicable
  
  
• Wearing "Buddy Blood Drop" costume helps recruit donors
  
  
• Put blood drive posters in lobbies and e-mail electronic blood drive poster
  
  
• Stand at entrance of building and hand out flyers the day of the drive to advertise
  
  
• Issue press releases about the drive
  
  

Scheduling Times and Places to Donate

• Drives set up to overlap day and evening shifts to allow staff time to donate
  
  
• If site suitability or lack of site is an issue, perhaps new sites within the sponsor site can be revealed or offered
  
  

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