The Profitable Business of Donated Blood: American Red Cross Reveals Its Strategy
The American Red Cross generates over $3.2 billion in operating revenue, with contributions making up only a third of its revenue. The majority of its revenue, around $1.8 billion, comes from selling blood collected from donors to hospitals and medical facilities across the country. The organization does not charge for the blood itself but is reimbursed by hospitals for the costs associated with providing blood products. The American Red Cross spends over $2 billion on collecting blood, which is about $139 million more than the revenue it collects from selling the blood.