Two years after being retained to wind down a 78-year-old community blood bank, Revitalization Partners (RP) has successfully closed the books on Cascade Regional Blood Services (CRBS) – but not before creating a donor advised fund that will preserve the blood center’s legacy for years to come. The proceeds, which will be administered by the Greater Tacoma Charitable Foundation, will be used to support advanced biomedical blood research.
Like many communities nationwide, Pierce County has experienced decreased blood collections over the past several years in part due to the changing demographics of the donor base. Those factors, coupled with an increase in hospital and patient needs, ultimately outpaced CRBS’ capacity to scale operations to meet demand.
Once the direction became clear, the nonprofit CRBS Board retained Revitalization Partners to manage the organization through the transition. Veteran RP Director Pat Scanlon, a specialist in change management, stepped in as interim CEO to lead the effort.
Among the firm’s greatest challenges: maintaining donor participation and preserving local blood supply while preparing for the transition to a new blood services provider. The RP team developed and deployed a series of strategic communications to key stakeholders to ensure that operational impacts would be minimal and the transition seamless.
Once that mission was carried out, RP’s focus shifted to maximizing the value of the blood center’s assets. The sale of equipment and property as well as a subsequent settlement negotiated with a pension fund liability effectively brought the engagement to a close, leaving the nonprofit with enough money to establish the fund.
The fund will support early-stage blood-related doctoral, post-doctoral, and applied research that has the possibility to meaningfully advance understanding and innovation in blood science. The focus is intentionally narrow and non-overlapping with existing organizations, including Blood Centers of America and its member institutions. As such, it will not be earmarked for blood collection, donor programs, or operational logistics.
“We have guided many organizations through the gauntlet of operational restructuring during our 23-year history,” said RP Principal Al Davis, “but this one ranks among the most satisfying. Maximizing the value of their assets is only part of the story. Thanks to the leadership and ingenuity of the team, we were able to preserve a legacy.”
About Revitalization Partners
Founded in 2004, Revitalization Partners specializes in improving the operational and financial results of middle market companies nationwide and abroad. Whether the situation calls for interim management, business valuation or assessment, revitalization, re-engineering or managing through the receivership/bankruptcy process, the firm focuses on finding the best resolution in the shortest amount of time – with the highest possible return. Learn more at revitalizationpartners.com
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