Raising $1 Million-Plus Online in 365 Days: Nonprofits Using Convio Share Online Results, Strategies, Best Practices at Spring Seminar Series

Jewish National Fund, MADD, ASPCA, Carnegie Museums and Chicago Public Radio Speak on Using Internet for Fundraising, Marketing, Advocacy and More


AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 24, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Nonprofit organizations interested in learning how to optimize use of the Internet to drive fundraising and other forms of support will want to attend Convio's luncheon seminars, March 9-April 22, in cities nationwide.

"Real Results with Online Tools: Leveraging the Internet for Successful Marketing, Fundraising and Advocacy" will feature many of today's top nonprofits reporting on results they have achieved with Convio's advanced Internet tools -- from increasing donor renewal rates by as much as 20 percent among e-newsletter subscribers to raising more than $1 million dollars online in less than a year. The speakers, along with Convio experts, also will explain the Internet strategies driving their results and offer best practices and tips that all nonprofits can implement.

Convio is the leading provider of software and services that help nonprofits use the Internet to reach out to, attract and build strong relationships with constituents to drive support. Convio's spring seminars are the latest in the company's ongoing free seminar series for nonprofit professionals working in fundraising and development, marketing and public policy.

The two-hour events are scheduled for San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Detroit and Houston. (See information below on how to register.) The seminars will explain how nonprofits, using today's most advanced online tools, can use email and their Web sites to boost donations and improve communications with constituents. Topics include email strategies, increasing online and offline donations through online fundraising campaigns, and best practices for an online strategy.


 Speakers include:

 -- Howard Horowitz, Director of Marketing, Jewish National Fund
    (JNF).  In 2003, JNF raised more than $1 million online in less
    than 365 days, making it the leading Jewish nonprofit for
    e-philanthropy.
 -- Bobby Heard, National Director of Marketing and Development,
    Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). MADD grew its email house
    file by 76 percent in only five months and achieved a 135 percent
    higher email open rates in personalized versions of emails --
    where recipients received state-specific information -- versus
    recipients with no state data, who received the national version.
 -- Garth Moore, Web Producer, American Society for the Prevention of
    Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  Last year, the ASPCA sent almost 10
    million emails to constituents, motivated advocates to send nearly
    185,000 messages to lawmakers and increased online revenue by 119
    percent.
 -- Wendy Turner, Director of On-Air and Online Fundraising, Chicago
    Public Radio.  The station's first-year donor renewal rate for
    subscribers to the organization's monthly e-newsletter has been 20
    percent higher than the first-year renewal rate for
    non-subscribers.
 -- Karen Poirier, Director of Membership Marketing, Carnegie Museums
    of Pittsburgh. Total online membership gifts for the organization
    increased by 263 percent in 2003 compared with 2002. Currently, 25
    percent of membership renewals are online, with online gifts 11
    percent higher than offline.
 -- Ariane Sweeney, Vice President, Development, Citizens Against
    Government Waste (CAGW).  In 2003, CAGW experienced a 53 percent
    increase in online donations and a 173 percent increase in
    responses to its action alerts compared with 2002.
 -- Vinay Bhagat, Founder, Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer, Convio
 -- Fred Waugh, Vice President of Marketing, Convio

"These seminars are a great opportunity for nonprofit professionals to learn directly from their peers about how to harness the power of the Internet and integrate online activities into every facet of their organizations," said Gene Austin, Convio CEO. "Convio is not only very committed to helping clients measure the results of their online campaigns so they can understand what works best. We also believe it's important to share these results as well as the strategies and tactics behind them so that all nonprofits can benefit from the 'lessons learned.'"

All seminars, which include lunch, will be from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., as follows:


 -- March  9, San Francisco, The Fairmont Hotel
 -- March 10, Los Angeles, California Science Center
 -- March 11, Dallas, Adams Mark Hotel
 -- March 30, Atlanta, Omni Hotel at CNN Center
 -- April 13, Miami, Hyatt Regency Miami
 -- April 15, Philadelphia, Wyndham Hotel
 -- April 20, Minneapolis, Radisson Plaza Hotel
 -- April 21, Detroit, Wyndham Garden Hotel Novi
 -- April 22, Houston, Warwick Hotel

To sign up to attend a seminar, please visit www.convio.com/realresults, call toll-free 800-903-4826 or send email to realresults@convio.com.

About Convio

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 Constituent360(tm), 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 Jewish National Fund, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, ASPCA, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Citizens Against Government Waste and Chicago Public Radio, Convio's clients include, American Diabetes Association, AVON Foundation, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence United with the Million Mom March, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Dean for America, Easter Seals, Farm Aid, KCET Community Television of Southern California, Mercy Homes for Boys & Girls, National Trust For Historic Preservation, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, University of Texas at Austin's alumni association -- the Texas Exes, and Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. For more information, please visit www.convio.com.

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