Convio, Dean Campaign and Other Clients Present at D.C. Conference On How to Raise $18 Million Online in Nine Months

Sessions Featuring Convio and Clients Spotlight Record Internet Marketing Results and Best Practices by ASPCA, American Humane and Jewish National Fund

AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 18, 2004) -- Nonprofit professionals who want to know the secrets for raising $18 million online and building a support base of 600,000 people in less than a year will want to attend a Feb. 26 co-presentation by Convio and the Howard Dean presidential campaign at this year's Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation (DMANF) Annual Washington, D.C. Conference. Convio and several other clients -- including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), American Humane Association, Jewish National Fund, North Shore Animal League and National Trust for Historic Preservation -- also will report on outstanding 2003 marketing results and share best practices. 

 The conference, "$1 + $1 = $3," is Feb. 25-27, at The Capital Hilton, 16th & K Street, NW, in Washington, D.C.  DMANF is the largest international association for member organizations that use direct marketing media such as mail, telephone, and the Internet to communicate with donors, members, customers and the public.  Convio is the leading provider of software and services that help nonprofit organizations use the Internet to reach out to, attract and build strong relationships with constituents to drive support. 

"Convio is committed to helping clients use the Internet to propel their organizations forward in fulfilling their missions," said Gene Austin, CEO of Convio.  "We believe it's important to measure the results of online programs and share what we and our clients have learned about what works best.  There's a tremendous need for the information that we're capturing."

Convio will participate in the following sessions, mostly with clients:

  • "What Nonprofits Can Learn About Online Marketing from Political Campaigns," Thursday, Feb. 26, at 10:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m., co-presented by Convio Founder and Chairman, Vinay Bhagat, and Dean For America's (DFA) Deputy National Finance Director, Larry Biddle. Conference goers will learn how DFA used Convio to create an engaged, online community of 600,000 constituents and raise approximately $18 million online in just nine months. The session will explain how the campaign incorporated the Internet into virtually all activities to efficiently build a strong constituency and drive fundraising, participation and additional support. 

  • "Integrated Marketing: Enhancing Traditional Direct Response Programs with the Internet," Thursday, Feb. 26, 2:15 p.m.-3:40 p.m., led by Bhagat and featuring Convio client Jo Sullivan, Senior Vice President of ASPCA, along with representatives from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Humane Society of the United States. ASPCA, already utilizing the Internet for fundraising at the start of 2003, was able to increase online giving by approximately 120 percent over the course of the year through integration of online and offline marketing and communications. Bhagat, Sullivan and others will explain how to systematically acquire new donors at a lower cost, and improve lifetime donor value by adding electronic communications to the marketing mix.

  • "The Greatest Creative Breakthroughs in Nonprofit Direct Marketing of 2003," Friday, Feb. 27, 3:10 p.m.-4:35 p.m. Convio will be one of seven top direct marketing companies delivering brief presentations.  Convio will provide a snapshot of Jewish National Fund's success in raising more than $1 million online and growing the organization's email database by 106 percent -- to more than 100,000 -- in less than 365 days.

 Additionally, Convio clients are speaking at the following sessions:

  • "'MODEL' CREATIVE -- How Deep-Dive Analytics Can Drive Your Creative Success," Feb. 26, 8:00 a.m.-8:45 a.m. Dolores McDonagh, National Trust for Historic Preservation, will talk about her organization's use of predictive modeling, experimental design, and behavioral cues to tailor new creative approaches that optimize income.

  • "E-Mail List Building and List Management, List Growth Strategies and Tactics," Feb. 26, 2:15 p.m.-3:40 p.m. The panelists, including Lisa Wilson, North Shore Animal League America -- the largest pet-adoption agency in the world -- will address strategies for list growth, including appending, appeals to members, list exchange, cross- sponsorship and organic growth; and developing audiences to add new donors and members.

  • "Electronic Asks: Are You Using the Resources at Your Disposal to Drive Your Internet Audience?" Thursday, Feb. 26, 3:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Kathryn White, American Humane Association, will be among panelists discussing use of integrated and segmented campaigns to raise funds through donations, advertisement/sponsorship, and sale of goods, and also for advocacy, raising awareness and influencing public opinion. White will present brief case studies, including one on the group's integrated planned giving campaign with an online component that yielded a 10x greater response rate than the offline push and also helped attract a new constituent segment. 

To learn more about the conference and register to attend, please visit http://dmany.convio.net/site/PageServer

About Convio, Inc.

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, the ASPCA, American Humane, Jewish National Fund, North Shore Animal League America and National Trust for Historic Preservation, Convio's clients include Easter Seals, American Diabetes Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, AVON Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, KCET Community Television of Southern California, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the University of Texas at Austin's alumni association -- the Texas Exes, and the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.  For more information, please visit www.convio.com.

Whitney Wood Otstott
Corporate Communications Manager
Convio, Inc.
512-652-2632
wotstott@convio.com