BT to host Royal Wedding Charity Service

BT has been appointed to host the website for Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton’s Charitable Gift Fund. This follows the couple’s request that any well-wishers, considering sending a wedding gift, think about donating a charitable gift instead. BT is also providing the payment technologies and services that allow well-wishers to make the charitable donations over the internet or phone, and is also providing text donation services.

From today, well-wishers wanting to make a donation to the Charitable Gift Fund can do so by visiting the BT hosted www.royalweddingcharityfund.org website.

BT is providing these technologies and services as part of its ongoing commitment to making a positive difference to society.

BT’s IT service provider specialists have worked with digital marketing agency, GGMR, to host the online service, which uses BT’s e-Donate online system to record transactions, and BT Buynet to securely process credit and debit card donations, received online or over the phone. As well as processing phone donations in Sterling, well-wishers will also be able to donate online using Sterling, Euros and US, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand Dollars.

BT is providing an interactive voice response system for people making donations over the phone and is also providing a text service, in partnership with Dialogue Communications Limited, for UK mobile phone owners to make a fixed £5 gift donation using text messaging.

Nick Booth, Chief Executive, The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, said: "It has been great to have the support of BT on this important initiative. The Charitable Gift Fund being launched by Prince William and Miss Middleton could bring significant benefits to a range of important causes and charities chosen by the couple. The involvement of BT in hosting the new website for online charitable gifts and facilitating the chance for people to make gifts by phone and text as well, is key in the project’s success”.

Ian Livingston, BT Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to help develop and operate such an important service for the Royal Couple. We wish Prince William and Catherine all the best and hope that they have a wonderful day in April.”

BT has an expertise in providing secure online services, which has helped the company become a trusted technology partner for charities. BT’s support for charities spans more than 30 years, with its online donation platforms processing more than £160 million for high profile charity telethons, including the BBC’s Children in Need and DEC’s Pakistan appeal over the last nine years alone.

BT is committed to investing one per cent of its UK pre-tax profits in community and environmental programmes every year, which amounted to money, time and in-kind contributions of over £26 million in 2010.