ISBT Treasurer's Financial Summary
Summary
The results of 2025 - 2026 show the Society has moved towards financial equilibrium, where its operating result is used for activities for the benefit of the Society. After membership growth of the previous year the membership was stable, where the corporate partners in essence have maintained their support and contribution. One of the Society’s main activities is the organisation of congresses. As 2025 was an odd-numbered year, two congresses were held: Milan and Perth. The Milan congress was highly successful and generated a strong financial result, while the Perth congress achieved a modest positive result, in line with expectations.
The strong result from our Milan congress, due in large part to significant sponsoring and exhibition, and support from our corporate partners, have contributed to it reaching a result of over €500K .
The Society continues to invest strongly in core activities, knowledge development and sharing, to improve the availability and safety of blood transfusion globally by sponsoring activities of working parties and providing financial support to individuals and organizations.
The overall result for 2025-2026, after tax, was a small loss, resulting in a stable accumulated surplus of around €2.3m.
Income
After a very successful first face to face congress after the pandemic in Barcelona in 2024, the expectation for the year 2025-2026 were a small loss with continuation of activities of the Society. Much time was devoted to providing up to date and excellent scientific programs for the two congresses with the local organizing committees. Comparable with the year before, the congress in Milan also proved to be an excellent location with high attendance, from participants, sponsors and exhibitors resulting in a financially successful congress.
The congress in Perth was also a success and as was expected in financial terms the contribution was limited.
Commercial revenue decreased slightly. While corporate partner revenue remained relatively stable, advertising from other sources decreased.
The income from the royalties of Vox Sanguinis Journal decreased this year from €261 k to €200 k. The Society understands that declining subscription revenue is an unavoidable reality as open access publishing becomes more prominent. Consequently, the decline in subscription revenue should be offset with an increase in open access revenue. However, there was also a decline in open access revenue this past year. The Society together with the Vox Sanguinis publisher will continue to address the decline in open access. Both the Society and the publisher are committed to maintaining the Journal’s financial sustainability.
The Society’s membership was stable during last year with a rolling membership period, where people can join throughout the year rather than during a limited window at the beginning of the financial year.
Interest income decreased as a result of decreasing interest rates. The Society decided not to continue the longer-term deposits because additional interest income was only minimal.
Expenses
The Society’s most significant expense is personnel. For the last few years, the Society has performed all of its activities with an average of seven employees including the Executive Director, The Society ensures compensation remains competitive in the non-profit sector while also keeping pace with inflation.
Cost control is a major focus of the Society to be able to generate funds in support of the goals of the Society. Investments in technology in recent years have allowed the Society to continue to invest in member services in the most cost-efficient manner possible.
Projects and activities
The contributions to the working parties increased to €94 k from €57 k and €35 k (up from €21 k) was invested in the I TRY IT program. As this was an uneven year, the only Prize granted during the year was the Vox Best Paper Prize of €5k.
An important ISBT project has been the development of the Blood Group Allele database for a number of years. It was a very satisfying achievement when it became operational In November 2025. It is undoubtedly an important step forward for the ISBT community, researchers and doctors as well as for the industry that is making kits for red cell genotyping. With the database operational, the Society will be actively seeking financial support through industry sponsorship.
In line with our agreement with the Dutch tax authorities, tax expense for the year amounts to the Society’s taxable income at the statutory rate. The Society's income tax liability on 31 March 2026 consists of the tax liability from the flex reserve of €4 k. The flex reserve tax is not due until after 31 March 2027 and may be reduced by any losses incurred during the upcoming financial year.
