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BT launches new free online fundraising service for UK charities


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www.bt.com/mydonate

Charities and fundraisers across the United Kingdom are set to benefit from a boost in donations, after BT today launched MyDonate, a new free online charitable fundraising service, which guarantees that 100 per cent of all monies donated go direct to the charity (excluding credit/debit card charges).

BT has worked with a number of charities when developing MyDonate – including Cancer Research UK, Changing Faces, KidsOut, NSPCC and Women’s Aid – to ensure that it is a service that the charitable sector wants, making it the first not-for-profit fundraising service not to charge a subscription fee, set-up fee or commission. The service has been designed to be inclusive to all UK registered charities and grow the online donation market. Last year the total amount donated to charity by adults in the UK was estimated to be £10.6 billion, with only 7% of charitable givers donating online 1 .

The MyDonate website is now open to fundraisers who wish to raise money for charities that are currently registered to use the service. Thousands of UK registered charities are also being encouraged to sign up to MyDonate over the next year, so that as many people as possible can give more money to their favourite charities.

Ian Livingston, Chief Executive of BT, said: “We’ve launched MyDonate as we want to ensure that 100% of people’s fantastic fundraising efforts, and donations, go to the charity of their choice. BT already has a proud history of helping communities with charitable events, such as the recent Comic Relief telethon, and we’re delighted we can now take this knowledge and technological expertise to help charities become more effective in the vital work they do.”

Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society, said: “This initiative is a great example of how business can play its part in building the Big Society. BT has shown real leadership by using their expertise to make it easier for people to do their bit for their community. I look forward to seeing this new platform for giving go from strength to strength.”

BT has launched MyDonate as part of its ongoing commitment to making a positive difference to society. BT has developed 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 over the last nine years alone, these include the BBC’s Children in Need and DEC’s (Disasters Emergency Committee) Pakistan appeal. BT’s donation platforms are also supporting the Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund.

Andrew Flanagan, CEO of the NSPCC, said: “We are grateful for BT’s continued commitment and support for ChildLine since its inception in 1986 and are delighted to have been involved in the development of MyDonate. It provides an easy and accessible way for people to raise more funds for us without any of the online donations going on administration charges, which is great news for all UK charities who will be able to significantly increase their donation levels. I believe this will help encourage more people to not only give online, but give more in the long term.”

BT is committed to investing a minimum of one per cent of its 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. BT will run the MyDonate service completely for free, with all money going to charity, and forms a key part of the company’s charitable programme.

The MyDonate service will enable fundraisers to build and customise their own event pages in support of their chosen charities, as well as link to social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to help promote their fundraising events. Secure transaction engines and the very latest ’cloud computing’ technologies will also power the site and help make it simple to use.

MyDonate has been designed to be an inclusive website and as such follows Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) to an AA level standard of compliance, allowing access to content via a range of browsers and devices including screen readers.

Charities looking to sign up to MyDonate or wanting to find further information about the service should visit the web site at: www.bt.com/mydonate

1 Charities Aid Foundation: UK Giving 2010 Report

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Notes to editors: MyDonate’s charity launch partners include the following: AbilityNet, BBC Children in Need, Cancer Research UK, Changing Faces, Help the Hospices, KidsOut, Maggie Cancer Caring Centres, Mercy Ships, NSPCC, Ovarian Cancer Action, Paralympics GB, RNID, Unicef and Women’s Aid.

MyDonate charity partner supporting quotes:

“As one of BT’s new charity fundraising partners we are excited about the launch of MyDonate and welcome initiatives that will help grow online fundraising within the charity sector. We were given the opportunity to feedback on the site ahead of launch to ensure that it meets the needs of our employee fundraising partnership. MyDonate is a great example of how business can work with charities for the good of society and will strengthen our partnership with BT by encouraging employees to fundraise online in support of our charity”. Jools Tait, Director Corporate Partnerships, Cancer Research UK.

“MyDonate uses the latest technology from BT and provides a safe and secure way for people to donate online. Fundraisers who support our charity can be confident knowing that by using this new online fundraising service that the money they give online will be processed quickly and securely and paid directly to us.” James Partridge, founder and CEO of Changing Faces.

“Online fundraising web sites have fundamentally changed the way that people fundraise and this new service from BT will help support the magnificent work the fundraisers achieve. The ease and simplicity of MyDonate makes it easier for us to gain maximum exposure for all our fundraising events.” David Cosham, CEO of KidsOut.

“Donors want to be confident that the money that they donate online goes directly to the charity of their choice. As a smaller national charity dealing with the difficult and often hidden problem of domestic violence, it is good to know that it is free to sign up to MyDonate and that 100% of all monies donated will go directly to supporting our work.” Nicola Harwin CBE, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid.

TOP TEN REASONS FOR CHARITIES TO JOIN MYDONATE

* Free to use for all charities, fundraisers and donors (excluding credit/debit card charges)

* No charity set up, subscription fee or commission charged

* No charge for collecting Gift Aid 100% of donation goes to charity (excluding credit/debit card charges)
* Online support is available for charities and donors

* Setting up your charity page is easy

* Customised reporting

* MyDonate uses state of the art technology from BT

* BT has been supporting charities for more than 30 years

* Donating online has never been easier or safer



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