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.
the impact of your support
Philanthropy impacts every aspect of the mission of San Diego Blood Bank. Generous individual, corporate and foundation donors support our greatest needs for blood collection supplies, equipment, and innovative research. Financial gifts help us save lives every day.
Click HERE to view the digital Impact Report.
special thanks
Our heartfelt thanks to the Walter J. and Betty C. Zable Foundation for its generous $100,000 grant in support of the Mission in Motion bloodmobile campaign. This transformational gift helps advance the buildout of our new lifesaving vehicle, which will bring vital blood donation opportunities to communities across the Southern California region. Once completed, the new bloodmobile will support countless community blood drives and help ensure patients receive the lifesaving blood products they depend on. We are deeply grateful to the Zable Foundation for its partnership and commitment to saving lives.
San Diego Blood Bank extends its sincere gratitude to the Grossmont Healthcare District for its generous support through a $45,000 grant. These funds will be instrumental in replacing essential donor chairs at our East County Donor Center, enhancing our ability to serve the community effectively. We deeply appreciate your invaluable contribution.
San Diego Blood Bank would like to thank the San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO) for its generous grant of $1,131 in support of our collection efforts. This year commemorates 42 years of a lifesaving partnership with the County of San Diego, and we are sincerely appreciative of CECO’s ongoing financial 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.
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.
“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