Public Engagement

On this page:
Legislative Relations
Be the Match Foundation
Recruitment and Community Development 

We reach out to the public to raise awareness, connect with them emotionally and motivate them to join us in our life-saving mission. We value our relationship with those who register, volunteer and contribute. We want them to take pride in their membership in a community of people dedicated to saving lives. Through our public engagement efforts, we encourage and support others in their role as ambassadors for our organization, raising awareness of the opportunity to save a life.

Legislative Relations

The Legislative Relations department works to build and maintain support for federal and state legislative and regulatory issues that are critical to transplant patients and their families. We advocate on behalf of legislation that helps more patients get the treatment they need by working to ensure that adequate coverage is available through state and federal insurance programs. Other examples include policies related to funding for cord blood banking, paid leave for donors and Medicare coverage for marrow and umbilical cord blood transplantation. By creating and sustaining relationships with important stakeholders, educating legislators, and mobilizing grassroots activists, we also seek continuing reauthorization and appropriations for our program.

Be The Match Foundation^®

Be The Match Foundation is located at the headquarters of the National Marrow Donor Program and raises funds to support patients and their families undergoing life-saving bone marrow transplants. The funds raised by Be The Match Foundation help patients in many ways. First, financial contributions help us grow and diversify the Be The Match Registry. They also provide tangible financial support in the form of grants to qualifying patients to help with uninsured costs, as well as supporting critical research programs that help more patients find matches and improves the quality of their lives after transplant. 

Be The Match Foundation works pro-actively with individuals, corporations, organizations and grant-making foundations; all of which provide financial support in a variety of ways. Through events such as Be The One Run and Tribute fundraising dinners, we provide opportunities for patients, donors, volunteers and contributors to partner with us, increasing the financial resources necessary to meet patient needs today and into the future.

Recruitment and Community Development

Recruitment and Community Development partners with individuals, families, civic groups, faith communities and corporations to add new potential adult donors and cord blood units to the Be The Match Registry^®. Through innovative recruitment, education and communication strategies, we continually strive to increase registry member engagement and commitment to join, give and volunteer.