In partnership with our community, San Diego Blood Bank’s (SDBB) Financial Development Department raises funds to support San Diego Blood Bank’s critical role in serving our diverse community with lifesaving blood services and innovative medical research. Gifts from SDBB financial donors are vital to support our mission to advance and grow the essential services we provide. Support can be designated for our greatest need fund or specific campaigns.
featured funding priority
Join us as we begin our new $1.5 million dollar campaign to fund two new bloodmobiles to serve Southern California.
As a nonprofit, San Diego Blood Bank relies on financial support from the community to help fund vital capital needs like bloodmobiles. Did you know that almost 75% of first-time blood donors come from mobile blood drives?
Your support of a new bloodmobile allows us to:
Make blood donation accessible to more volunteer blood donors
Meet the growing demand for life-saving blood components for local patients
Serve more communities and hospital partners, impacting lives throughout Southern California
SDBB bloodmobiles are fully customized to meet our strict requirements to facilitate vital equipment and to provide donors with a safe and comfortable donation experience. Our new bloodmobiles also feature solar generators that reduce emissions and noise by allowing us to shut off the diesel motor during blood drives.
Our goal is to raise $750,000 for the first of two new bloodmobiles by October 2026, and we are well on our way with $173,227.45 (23%) raised so far. Every gift, no matter the size, ensures we can continue to meet the needs of patients across Southern California for years to come. For more information about the campaign, please contact Cherry Castro-Lector, Senior Director of Development, at cclector@sdbb.org or (619) 400-8214.
an important update
San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) has entered into a strategic partnership with Vitalant, a nonprofit blood organization that shares our mission, values, and commitment to saving lives.
This partnership strengthens our ability to serve Southern California by pairing our strong local presence with expanded resources and expertise — while our commitment to local impact remains unchanged.
Financial contributions raised by San Diego Blood Bank will continue to directly support programs, services, and innovation serving Southern California communities. Philanthropic support remains essential to advancing life-saving care across our region.
We remain locally operated, with the same mission, community focus, and commitment you trust. For more than 75 years, SDBB has served Southern California, and this partnership enhances our capacity to meet the needs of patients and hospitals, now and in the future.
Simply put, our work continues — with added strength and resources supporting us behind the scenes.
We are committed to sharing updates as the partnership progresses and remain deeply grateful for the generosity that makes our mission possible.
For more information, please view the official announcement on our main website or contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Senior Director of Development, at cclector@sdbb.org or (619) 400-8214.
special thanks
San Diego Blood Bank would like to express our gratitude to the San Diego Woman’s Club Foundation for its generous $35,000 grant serving as the lead contribution to our bloodmobile campaign. We thank them for their continued support and for saving lives.
The Grossmont Healthcare District z(GHD) has generously renewed its support for San Diego Blood Bank with a $45,000 grant. This funding will enhance operations at the East County Donor Center, a vital satellite location that has consistently served our community of blood donors. We extend our sincere gratitude to GHD for their continued support.
Thanks to The Albertsons Companies Foundation | The Vons Foundation | The Pavilions Foundation for their grant of $1,500 towards San Diego Blood Bank’s High School Challenge Program. With their support, we can continue to rebuild and strengthen this vital youth program—ensuring that future generations understand the power of giving back and the critical role they play in sustaining a safe and reliable blood supply.
In the summer of 2025, the Starbucks Foundation awarded San Diego Blood Bank a $1,000 grant through its Neighborhood Grant program. SDBB was among 3,200 nonprofits selected for their impactful community work. Leveraging our strong community connections, we received a nomination from Bailey, a Starbucks manager and new blood donor. Inspired by her close friendship with longtime blood donor Ray Lebron and his wife, Fran, Bailey submitted a grant application and nomination to acknowledge SDBB’s significant contributions. Last December, Bailey and her colleagues hosted a blood drive at their Starbucks store. We extend our sincere gratitude to Bailey, her team of baristas, and Ray Lebron for their invaluable support.
meet Blood recipient Alijah
Alijah was diagnosed with a rare blood condition known as Thalassemia. Because of this condition, his body can’t make a type of hemoglobin called “E hemoglobin,” which is needed to carry oxygen in the blood. To stay healthy and alive, Alijah needs a blood transfusion every three weeks. He had his first transfusion when he was just 8 months old at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.
Alijah is incredibly thankful to the people who donate blood and take the time to help—thanks to them, he and others like him have a chance to live a healthy life.
“On behalf of Sharp HealthCare, we are so very grateful for the San Diego Blood Bank team. Our Patient Blood Management Team has been working steadily to conserve this very precious resource and we are so thankful to have such an incredible partner who continues to outperform the rest of the country and helps our hospitals save the lives of our patients each day. We are honored to work alongside each of you.”
─ Susan Stone, PhD RN FACHE NEA-BC, Chief Executive Officer, Sharp Coronado Hospital
Support key initiatives
Gift of life
Your gift will help fund state-of-the-art equipment and resources to ensure patients have access to a robust, safe blood supply.
Innovation
We are using DNA analysis to offer Precision Blood™ transfusions to patients with leukemia, sickle cell disease and bone marrow disorders.
collaboration
San Diego Blood Bank collaborates with San Diego and Southern California hospitals to collect umbilical cord blood after the birth of a healthy, full-term baby.
Ways to Give
individual gifts
planned giving
Corporate and Foundation Giving
other ways
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