Global Blood Fund

“Obi holding company is the sole member of gbf.”

“As the sole member of gbf, obi holding company has the authority to appoint board members.”

“Gbf's form 990 is prepared by an independent accounting firm and reviewed internally prior to distributing to the board. Subsequent to review, all updates are incorporated into the form 990 and are provided to board members prior to filing with the irs.”

“Gbf has a conflict of interest policy that establishes guidelines and procedures applicable to transactions or arrangements that might benefit the private interest of an officer or trustee of the organization. Individuals considering a transaction shall appoint a disinterested person to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably attainable under the circumstances that would not give rise to a conflict of interest, the board or committee shall determine, by a majority vote of the disinterested trustees, whether the transaction or arrangement is in the best interest of the organization and whether the transaction is fair to the organization. Each trustee, officer, and member of a committee with board delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms that such a person has received a copy of the conflict of interest policy, has read and understands the policy, has agreed to comply with the policy and understands that the organization is a charitable organization and that in order to maintain its federal tax exemption, it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes. If the board or the committee has reasonable cause to believe that an interested person has failed to disclose a conflict of interest as required by this policy, the board or committee shall inquire, investigate and take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action, as necessary.”

“The volunteer board members and officers are compensated by a related organization. No part of the related entity compensation is for services rendered to the filing organization. The executive compensation for those individuals is paid by a related organization (oklahoma blood institute -"obi") of gbf's sole corporate member. The obi policy is as follows: as leaders of the state's largest biopharmaceutical organization, a 900-plus staff entity, the roles of ceo and other physicians and executives require a rare blend of astute organizational leadership, vision, fiduciary management, advanced medical specialization and expertise in the unique scientific field of transfusion medicine. Executives have responsibility for fifteen operational facilities across three states and ten major markets in the region and the day-to-day provision of a safe and sufficient blood supply to meet the needs of patients in more than 212 facilities served. The compensation of the ceo is determined and documented by the executive committee of the independent board of directors, comprised of community leaders, business executives and physicians with exemplary ethical and fiduciary standards. Ceo compensation is based on comparative salary data from similar health care organizations using irs form 990 and industry salary surveys. Similarly, compensation for executives reporting to the ceo is proposed by the ceo based on comparable national and local salaries for positions and approved by the executive committee. Changes to compensation are reviewed and formally approved annually by the executive committee of the related organization's board of directors. Gbf's contract executive director is an independent contractor. His compensation is reviewed and approved by the board.”

“The governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are made available upon request.”

“(Expenses $ 17,461 including grants of $ 3,086) MUCH OF GBF'S ACTIVITY RELATES TO ITS ABILITY TO CREATE AND GALVANIZE NETWORKS IN THE US, EUROPE, AND AUSTRALASIA (NATIONAL AND REGIONAL BLOOD SERVICES, INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS, REGULATORY BODIES ETC.) TO ASSIST DEVELOPING-WORLD BLOOD COLLECTION ORGANIZATIONS. WORKING BOTH DIRECTLY AND THROUGH PAN-NATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, GBF IS ABLE TO ASSEMBLE MULTI-AGENCY COLLABORATIONS, WITH OBJECTIVES AND CONFIGURATIONS DIFFERING BY PROJECT. OVER THE PERIOD, CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WERE NURTURED WITH AfSBT (AFRICA SOCIETY FOR BLOOD TRANSFUSION), ISBT (INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR BLOOD TRANSFUSION), COBA (COALITION OF BLOOD FOR AFRICA), AABB (ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF BLOOD AND BIOTHERAPIES), ADRP (ASSOCIATION OF BLOOD DONOR PROFESSIONALS), GCIAMT (GRUPO COOPERATIVO IBEROAMERICANO DE MEDICINA TRANSFUSIONAL), ETC. IN MARCH 2024 AN MOU WAS SIGNED WITH AABB, FORMALLY EXTENDING AND RECOMMITTING TO THE EXISTING PARTNERSHIP. IN FEBRUARY 2025 THE GBF BOARD WAS STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE ADDITION OF A DIRECTOR REPRESENTING TERUMO BCT, A MAJOR INDUSTRY SUPPLIER. THIS ILLUSTRATES THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO CREATE A VALUE-ADDING CONFLUENCE OF PARTNERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE AND IS AN APPROACH UPON WHICH THE CHARITY WILL TRY TO BUILD IN THE FUTURE.”

“(Expenses $ 8,730 including grants of $ 1,543) A TRADITIONAL MAINSTAY OF GBF'S FUNDRAISING APPROACH HAS BEEN THE "OPEN ARMS" PROGRAM, WHICH GIVES BLOOD CENTERS ACROSS THE U.S. AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THEIR BLOOD DONORS A CHARITABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE USUAL RECOGNITION ITEMS OF PRINTED T-SHIRTS, ETC. THIS PROGRAM CREATES A VIRTUOUS CIRCLE OF ACTIVITY SUCH AS IMPROVING DONOR CHOICE, MOTIVATING COLLECTION STAFF, SAVING BLOOD CENTERS MONEY, PROVIDING A DIVERSITY PLATFORM TO ENCOURAGE BLOOD DONATION FROM MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORK IN AN AREA OF INTEREST TO ALL PARTIES. HOWEVER, PARTICIPATION HAS WANED AS BLOOD CENTER BECOME MORE SELF-DIRECTED IN THEIR USE OF CHARITABLE FUNDING. THIS HAS INCREASED RELIANCE ON EXTERNAL DONATIONS, PRIMARILY FROM ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE BLOOD BANKING ECOSYSTEM. THE LAUNCH LAST YEAR OF 'FRIENDS OF GLOBAL BLOOD FUND' WAS DESIGNED. THROUGH FORWARD COMMITMENT, TO BRING MORE CERTAINTY TO THIS INCOME STREAM. BUT THERE IS SEEMINGLY A RELUCTANCE - SOMETIMES FOLLOWING LEGAL ADVICE - TO COMMIT TO SUCH FUTURE DONATIONS, AND SO THE CHALLENGE OF ACCURATE BUDGETING IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES REMAINS. A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WERE MADE FOR GRANTS TO FUND SCOPED PROJECTS, BUT NONE WERE SUCCESSFUL. THE TEXT-TO-GIVE SERVICE, LONG USED BY GBF, CLOSED DURING THE PERIOD, DEPRIVING THE CHARITY OF FUTURE REVENUES THROUGH THIS CHANNEL. GBF ENGAGED IN TWO ROUNDS OF CROWDFUNDING TO RESOURCE ITS COMMITMENTS TO VILLAGE OF HOPE AND TO MANAGE THE LOGISTICS OF GETTING THE GARMENT DONATION TO GHANA. THIS WAS SUCCESSFUL AND WILL BECOME A MORE ROUTINE PART OF THE FUNDRAISING MIX IN THE FUTURE. GBF IS THE DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY OF A PERCENTAGE OF REVENUES FROM OTHER INITIATIVES; NAMELY REVIVR, DONABLE AND MISSION MARKET. FUNDING FROM THESE STREAMS IS MODEST AT PRESENT, BUT WILL GROW AS AND WHEN THESE PROJECTS BECOME MORE ESTABLISHED. GBF HELD A T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST, WITH THE WINNING DESIGN BEING USED ON A GARMENT THAT WAS THEN OFFERED FOR SALE. THIS RAISED MODEST ADDITIONAL FUNDS.”