The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary will benefit from a charity fund set up by Prince William and Kate Middleton for their wedding.

The royal couple, who are set to marry April 29, set up the fund in lieu of gifts. They've listed five "causes" as being near and dear to their hearts: Children fulfilling their potential, support for services personnel and their families, changing lives through art and sports, conservation for future generations, help and care at home.

The auxiliary is a non-profit organization that helps the coast guard and defence department with search and rescue, as well as safe boating programs.

"This is pretty exciting news," said Malcolm Dunderdale, president and chairman of the auxiliary's national board of directors. "The really cool thing about this is Prince William is a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot."

Dunderdale said he had an inkling something was up when St. James' Palace officials called him a few weeks ago.

"They kept asking lots of questions," he said, adding it's nice to know Prince William and Middleton had a hand in selecting the auxiliary to benefit from the fund.

The organization has about 4,300 volunteers across Canada. Dunderdale said search and rescue is "what we're best at," but they have a big focus on education.

"Prevention is worth more than the cure," he said.

Dunderdale said that while he can't speculate on how much the auxiliary could gain from the fund, any money it receives will go to training more volunteers, buying safety items and adding to its educational programs.

"Any contribution to our organization is gratefully received," he said.

"Having been touched by the goodwill shown them since the announcement of their engagement, Prince William and Miss Middleton have asked that anyone who might wish to give them a wedding gift consider giving instead to a charitable fund," said a statement on the couple's official wedding website, released Wednesday.

The charity fund website is royalweddingcharityfund.org. It includes a list of the charities the couple selected.

"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," the statement said.