The Donate Life float's riders and floragraph honorees represent millions of people touched by organ and tissue donation. Riders must have a personal connection to donation as the family member of a deceased organ, eye or tissue donor; a living organ donor; or a recipient of an organ, tissue or cornea transplant. Honorees depicted in the float's memorial floragraph portraits are required to be deceased organ, eye or tissue donors.

Riders must be at least 12 years of age (per parade rules), in good physical condition, comfortable with media interviews and able to travel to Pasadena, California from December 29 to January 2. In some years, the Donate Life float may feature walkers as well, but only if they can be closely integrated into the float design.

Riders and floragraphs are individually sponsored by Official Partners that support the Donate Life Rose Parade Float financially. Riders and floragraphs must be sponsored by organizations; they cannot be sponsored by individuals. Foundations wishing to sponsor a floragraphs for their namesake must agree to a two-year sponsorship, with another donor honored in the second year.

Float Rider and Floragraph Sponsors are responsible for determining the process by which participants are seelected. Some have specific individuals in mind, while others choose to stage an open application or nomination process to identify as many candidates as possible.

In most cases, local organizations select riders from their service area, while national organizations may select riders from all regions of the country. Since 2005, the Astellas "Ride of a Lifetime" essay contest has awarded five float riders the opportunity to ride the Donate Life float. See our Official Partners page for a list of and links to organizations that sponsor riders and floragraphs. When contacting them, ask for the Public Relations department to inquire about their selection process.To request a document detailing Donate Life Float Partnership Opportunities, please email Float Committee chairman Bryan Stewart at bstewart@onelegacy.org.