Posted on 23rd March 2011
Prince William and Catherine Middleton have set up a charitable gift fund for those who wish to donate to charity to help the couple celebrate their wedding on 29 April.
The fund will focus on 26 selected charities supporting the five causes chosen by the couple – changing lives through arts and sport, children fulfilling their potential, help and care at home, support for service personnel and their families, and conservation for future generations. Charities include the Scottish Community Foundation, Berkshire Community Foundation and the Community Foundation in Wales.
None of the charities chosen have any formal relationship with either Prince William or Ms Middleton. “Rather the couple has chosen to take the chance to benefit some causes that have less exposure or which are undertaking valuable work in areas of the community which the couple feel would benefit from this support,” says the website www.royalweddingcharityfund.org.
Individuals can donate to the group they particularly wish to support, or to individual charities within each group. The charities include some based in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, “to reflect the couple’s close ties to and affection for the three countries following visits by Prince William in the past”.
Donations can be made in six currencies via the website which includes a full list of the charities to benefit, or by phone, text message or cheque.
Both BT, which is hosting the gift fund website and processing platform for website and telephone donations, and design agency GGMR, who built the website, have agreed to waive their fees. In addition, all UK mobile operators have agreed to waive their usual processing charges so that the full £5 of any SMS donation will be added to the Fund, although standard network message charges will be applied.
The donations will be held in a dedicated account by the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry and grants will be distributed in partnership with the benefitting charities “to ensure maximum impact” with Trustees taking donor preferences into consideration in making final decisions on distribution.The Foundation will not deduct any administration or other charges from donations.
