The Client
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) was formed in 1963. They are an umbrella organisation for 13 humanitarian aid agencies. At times of overseas emergency, the DEC brings together a unique alliance of the UK’s aid, corporate, public and broadcasting sectors to rally the nation’s compassion, and ensure that funds raised go to DEC agencies best placed to deliver effective and timely relief to people most in need.
Business Challenge
DEC appeals are reserved for major disasters and emergencies. Their remit is to unite agency efforts in times of disaster – such as flood, earthquake or famine – wherever it happens in the world. The way DEC approach their work is to maximise funds raised and ensure they are spent in an effective and fully accountable way. They are supported by a network of television and radio broadcasters, banks, the Post Office, regional press and a range of organisations in the public sector. These organisations help the DEC at the time of an appeal, to publicise the situation and raise funds. In 1999 they decided to add another route to receiving funds, through the acceptance of credit and debit card donations.
The nature of DEC appeals means they required a solution that could be ready to receive donations within hours of a disaster happening and capable of processing thousands of donations simultaneously.
Business Solutions
The Servebase PC-EFT product is a robust and reliable solution for processing large volumes of transactions. Servebase were able to set up a system that made the whole process from disaster alert through to close of appeal very simple. Every time a new appeal is launched a new merchant identification number has to be allocated. This enables the DEC to track how much is donated for separate appeals. Servebase work with the banks to store pre authorised and tested merchant identification numbers for the DEC. This means they are ready for immediate use once an appeal is launched. The solution, running on clustered SQL servers provides a fully redundant and failover system.
Results
The system has proven to have the capability to receive vast amounts of near simultaneous transactions. For example, when South Asia and Somalia were hit by a series of tsunamis on 26 December 2004 an international appeal was immediately set up. Servebase were receiving and processing thousands upon thousands of near simultaneous donations within hours. The appeal raised £390m. Since 1999 Servebase has implemented credit card acceptance for 14 disaster appeals for the DEC which raised in excess of £726m. Servebase provide this service to the DEC free of charge.
Pat Wilson, DEC Fundraising Manager said; “Through the valued support of Servebase over the past 10 years, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has been able to process thousands of supporters card donations raising millions for our disaster appeals.
Key Benefits
Quick Set up
Additional donation stream
Efficient transaction reconciliation
Fast transaction authorisation
Secure
Centralised reporting function
