AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 18, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) - Convio, the leading provider of software and services that help nonprofits use the Internet to develop strong constituent relationships, today announced that it will provide the acclaimed services of Meetup.com, the people-powered service that organizes real world, face-to-face local gatherings about anything, anywhere, to offer customers the most complete and powerful set of Internet tools for building and mobilizing constituent communities at the grassroots level.
"It makes sense that the leading online partner for nonprofits would join forces with the company that is taking the country by storm with its online tools for grassroots organization of people with common interests," said Gene Austin, CEO of Convio. "Nonprofits now can come to one source -- Convio -- for obtaining the full set of tools they need to build strong communities of supporters. This is a real advantage for nonprofits -- the process is easy and consistent with Convio's customer-centric focus."
Meetup uses the Internet to help people get together, face-to-face, with others in their communities who share common interests. Meetup's Internet platform and global network of local venues helps people self-organize local group gatherings on the same day everywhere. Meetups take place in thousands of cities and small towns in 45 countries at local cafes, restaurants, bookstores, and other local establishments. Nearly 1 million people have signed up for meetups on 2,700-plus topics.
In recent months, the spotlight has been on Meetup because political candidates use it heavily, among them, the Democratic presidential front-runner and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, who also is a Convio client. However, a broader spectrum of organizations use Meetup because it is a highly effective solution for virtually any group engaged in grassroots advocacy or that offers support and educational events in local communities. For example, another Convio client, the Million Mom March United with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, uses Meetup to organize local groups concerned about its issues.
"Convio works with some great organizations and we are looking forward to helping bring people together locally to discuss the issues that are near-and-dear to their hearts," said Scott Heiferman, CEO of Meetup.
Convio has already integrated its software solutions with Meetup's offering. Using an integrated approach, a nonprofit can create a Meetup and post the event description on its organization's Web site and also on www.meetup.com. Convio enables "dual registration" for constituents so that when registering for an event at Meetup.com, participants also have the option to register on the nonprofit's Convio-powered Web site to receive information regularly about the group and its activities, and to potentially provide direct support by making a donation, signing a petition, or taking another form of action. Conversely, a constituent who registers generally on a nonprofit's Web site for example, to receive electronic newsletters and/or other email communications also can simultaneously register for related Meetup events. Convio integration ensures that data is shared between both organizations' databases.
About Meetup
Meetup Inc. (http://www.meetup.com) helps stimulate local community by creating global "Meetup Days" for most any topic of interest. Meetups are real world, face-to-face group gatherings that can take place in thousands of towns in 45 countries at local cafes, restaurants, bookstores, bars, and other local establishments. Since launching in June 2002, Meetup has become a grassroots phenomenon, with nearly 1 million people registered for monthly Meetups on more than 2,600 topics and interests. Meetup's commercial and political partners include Bill O'Reilly, Clark for President, Common Cause, Dean for America, Democratic National Committee, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Grassroots Enterprise, Investor's Business Daily, John Edwards for President, John Kerry for President, Kucinich for President, March for Choice, Townhall (Heritage Foundation), United Nations Foundation among others. Meetup is non-partisan, based in New York City, and is privately held.
About Convio(r)
Convio is the leading provider of software and services that help nonprofit organizations use the Internet to build strong constituent relationships to drive support and participation. Convio has online solution centers for fundraising and membership, advocacy, special events, volunteer fundraising, Web site management, email communications and alumni relations. All centers include the Constituent360 platform, a sophisticated, online marketing database that centralizes constituent data and integrates with offline databases. This gives nonprofits a unified view of constituent interests and motivations -- key for personalized and targeted outreach and communications. Convio also provides services and consulting to help nonprofits achieve success online.
In addition to Dean for America, Convio's clients include Easter Seals, American Diabetes Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, AVON Foundation, National Trust For Historic Preservation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, KCET Community Television of Southern California, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Georgetown University and the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. For more information, please visit www.convio.com.
The Convio logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=340