ABOUT THE
UNIVERSITY BLOOD

INITIATIVE

The University Blood Initiative (UBI) is a grassroots organization dedicated to combating local blood shortages. Our mission is to support local blood centers by empowering, educating, and mobilizing the next generation of blood donors. Through our university chapter-based model and social media campaigns, we are building an organized network of dedicated young leaders ready to take initiative against this crisis.

MISSION, HISTORY& VISION.

Our movement began in 2017 at the University of Chicago. Motivated by the desire to give back to the patients at the University of Chicago Medicine, a small coalition of students formed to take on the public health challenges they had encountered. These students developed a university chapter model that allowed them to succeed beyond anyone’s expectations. Within a year, their efforts increased the in-center donation rate many times over. 

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While outdated blood systems and a lack of engaged youth donors threaten the future of our nation’s blood supply, we face crises in the present. Our blood supplies are unstable. During even the best of times, shortages of donor products are not uncommon, and they threaten the lives of patients everywhere--from maternity wards to trauma units. America’s over-reliance on national blood systems rather than local independent centers exacerbates the situation. Operating on such a grand scale can decrease transport efficiency during emergencies and endanger patient outcomes, all while increasing the costs of care. 

That’s where we come in.

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By empowering young, diverse blood donors to engage with their local blood centers, we are fighting national blood shortages, strengthening communities, and saving lives. Our fiercely collaborative network of local independent blood centers works at the cutting edge of society, science, and public policy to achieve a sustainable blood supply for the good of all.

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We invite you to join our community and change the future of blood donation.

CORE VALUES.

Connection

A commitment to our teammates and our partners.

Integrity

Honesty in our daily words and actions.

Authenticity

We show up as our wholehearted selves.

Innovation

Creativity in how we work and think.

Purpose

Act with passion and in pursuit of the greater good.

COMMITMENTS.

DIVERSITY 

& INCLUSION:

We believe in the importance and power of diversity, not only in the donor pool, but also within our organization.

Our team actively recruits for and empowers voices from all backgrounds and life paths to discover and discuss the ideas that will create a healthier tomorrow.

SOCIAL CAUSES:

The University Blood Initiative commits to working with other organizations to move the world forward. Such actions should be recognized as a-political. We will relate all that we engage in back to our central mission of creating more modern and sustainable blood systems.

PARTNERS.

UBI is proud to partner with independent blood centers and organizations throughout the country. We couldn’t do what we do without them and their commitment to fighting blood shortages across the United States – and beyond.