How to Donate?

1. Please look over the Donor Selection Criteria, which outlines a basic list of basic exclusions for donating. There are some exceptions to this list, so please note any questions you may have on the form below. We know they can get a little strange, don’t worry!
2. If you have experienced a loss, please accept our deepest sympathy during this time. We strive to offer the opportunity to heal through our Garrett’s Gift Bereavement Donation Program. If you are interested in donating, please contact IMMB by email at chawkins@immb.org or by phone at 317-536-1670 or toll-free at 877-829-7470. You do not need to continue with the steps below – we will be back in contact very shortly.
3. Fill out the Potential Donor Form.
4. You will receive an email with the instructions on accessing and completing the Complete Donor Packet. It consists of the following forms:
   • Consent Form, Medical History Form and  Health Care Provider Release Forms
   • NOTE: If forms have black boxes on them, contact us and we will email you a different version.
5. Fill out the appropriate forms and return to Carissa, our Donor Outreach Coordinator, by mail, fax, or scan & email.
6. Once Carissa receives your Potential Donor Packet, she will be back in touch to arrange a blood screening, at our expense. The options for undergoing the blood screening are as follows:
   • If you live in the Indy area, you can visit one of the approved IU Health Laboratories in town.  IMMB will set up the blood draw for you.
   • If you live close to one of our Milk Depot locations or outside of Indiana, we will send you a blood collection kit. You can then take this to either the Milk Depot or a health care provider in your area to get your blood drawn. Most of the time, the lab will then send the blood back directly to us for analysis using the prepaid UPS return label. The lab may also request that you drop the blood kit off at a UPS drop-off location.

   NOTE: IMMB is a small, nonprofit organization with limited resources. Typically, your health care provider will draw the blood free of cost if you inform them that you are donating your milk to IMMB. If they do insist on charging you to draw your blood, please keep the receipt and we will reimburse you!

7. Once we have received your complete paperwork and blood test results, you will be notified of your final approval as a donor and we can arrange for your milk to be shipped to IMMB! Check out our Donation Collection & Storage sheet for more information.

Why Donate?

One in eight babies is born premature (March of Dimes Peristats, 2010). Premature or ill infants are at a much higher risk for devastating infections if they are fed formula instead of human milk. These haunting statistics, combined with our belief that human milk is the optimal form of nutrition and immunologic protection for babies, is the reason for what we do. To say it best, human milk fights infection while providing ideal nutrition. However, a mother may not be able to provide this precious resource because:
Premature delivery can cause delayed milk production or an insufficient supply

We recognize the time, effort, and love you have put into pumping, labeling, and freezing your milk. If you have extra, please share this amazing resource!

Mom’s own milk is always ideal for the baby – but when this is not available, human milk donations from generous mothers like you are the next best option. Organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization agree! IMMB follows strict screening, processing, and dispensing guidelines established by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) to ensure the safety of pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM). Babies may receive PDHM because of the following: