ImpactLife Blood Donors Contribute $22,000 for Regional Food Banks

Published by Kirby Winn on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 in News Releases

ImpactLife blood donors have provided more than $22,000 that will be used to support food banks across the blood center’s four-state service region. This adds to a total of more than $90,000 that blood donors have given to nonprofit organizations through the blood center’s Good Giving program over the last 12 months. In addition to food banks, recipients over the last year include Make-A-Wish chapters in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin; Best Friends Animal Society, and the National Forest Foundation.

ImpactLife blood donors are given the opportunity to claim an electronic gift card, points to use in the ImpactLife Donor Rewards Store, or to make an equivalent value donation to a nonprofit organization through the Good Giving program. The total given reflects the amount blood donors have elected to donate rather than to redeem as a gift card or as points to use in the Donor Rewards Store. 

“Hundreds of blood donors across our region step forward every day to help others,” said Tara Matheson, Director Donor Recruitment & Engagement. “It’s no surprise to see blood donors embrace the opportunity to increase the impact of their donation by contributing to nonprofits.”

With recent changes the blood center has made to its Donor For Life program, blood donors who give with ImpactLife can now choose to direct financial support to any 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Previously, the blood center would select a particular organization as the designated recipient of funds. Now donors are free to choose any nonprofit organization or cause that is in good standing as a registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

“Blood donors have a diverse range of interests and the charitable causes they would like to support,” said Matheson. “That’s why we’ve now made it an option for Good Giving redemptions to reflect a wide array of interests.”

Donor For Life: ImpactLife Donor Rewards

Last month, ImpactLife announced updates to the blood center’s Donor For Life Program, an initiative that rewards blood donors who give multiple times each year. The updated program now offers bigger rewards as donors give more often, making regular donations even more worthwhile.

In 2024, blood donors in the ImpactLife service region gave blood an average of 2.2 times per year, and this program aims to help increase that number. ImpactLife donors can now choose from rewards that grow in value as they give blood more frequently throughout the year. Donor rewards include:

• Electronic gift cards
• Bonus points for the Donor Rewards Store
• Charitable donations to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit of the donor’s choice

After each donation, donors will receive an email with the subject line “Your Recent Donation” within 48 hours containing a link to order a thank you gift. Donors who select charitable donations will receive information on how to select their charity. Please note that all 501(c)(3) are available to choose and the amount of their contribution is based on donation frequency.

More Frequent Donations Earn Greater Rewards

Previously, donors received the same donation reward value no matter how often they donated. With the updated Donors For Life program, rewards increase with each qualifying donation. To book an appointment for blood donation, please call (800) 747-5401, or schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org or via the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).

Rewards apply equally to donations made at ImpactLife donor center locations or mobile blood drives. A full rewards chart—including values for different donation types (e.g., Whole Blood, Double Red Cell, or Platelet/Plasma)—is shown below.

NOTE: those who are deferred from giving blood in pre-donation screening will remain ineligible for  the Donor Reward values listed above. Donors with deferrals will earn 100 points for their attempt and can rebook for a future date to try to donate again, but a deferred donation will not count towards a donor’s annual donation count/earned reward value, as shown here. (For more information, see www.bloodcenter.org/donorforlife.)

ABOUT IMPACTLIFE

ImpactLife's mission is to save lives by engaging donors, supporting partners, and advancing medicine. Founded in 1974, ImpactLife supplies blood products and services to hundreds of hospitals, emergency services organizations, clinical researchers, and other blood centers throughout Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The nonprofit blood provider is ranked among the leading 12 blood suppliers in the United States. For more information on current blood inventory levels, our donor promotions, and more, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

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