Autism Society of America Honors Convio for Helping Group Leverage Internet to Increase Donations and Raise AwarenessIn First Five Months of 2004, Autism Society Surpasses Previous Year's Online Fundraising Total; Also Using Convio to Expand Events to New MarketsAUSTIN, TEXAS (July 8, 2004) In the first five months of 2004 alone, the Autism Society of America (ASA) eclipsed the previous year's online fundraising total, thanks to online tools from, and an ongoing partnership with, Convio, Inc. To express its appreciation of Convio, ASA will honor the company's founder, Vinay Bhagat, during the nonprofit's national conference in Seattle this week. Bhagat is one of three people who will receive ASA's annual Corporate Leadership Award at the July 8 "Evening of Champions" dinner. Convio is the leading provider of software and services to help nonprofits use the Internet for developing strong constituent relationships that drive fundraising, marketing, advocacy and other forms of support. ASA is the most widely recognized, oldest and largest grassroots organization within the autism community, with more than 50,000 members and supporters, and a network of 200-plus chapters nationwide. The decision to partner with Convio to integrate online activities into the ASA's overall strategy is a key reason that the organization is now the primary resource for parents with autistic children. "Vinay has consistently provided ASA with valuable leadership and a wonderfully versatile product. His guidance has allowed us to stay focused on providing services that fulfill our mission to our constituents," said Rob Beck, President, Autism Society of America. "He's an invaluable resource on nonprofit sector issues and knows the industry inside and out. Vinay is a perfect choice for a Corporate Leadership Award, and I look forward to presenting it to him at the dinner." When ASA started working with Convio in June 2002, the nonprofit had a static content Web site with only basic capabilities for online giving and email communication. By the end of May 2004, the organization had already raised $100,000 in online donations -- the total raised online for all of 2003. The $100,000 raised online in the first five months of 2004 does not include online contributions related to registration for special events, so the total amount raised online is actually higher. Online registration for special events is an increasingly important source of revenue for ASA. ASA publicizes its Web site URL in all printed materials and also gives constituents a reason to go to its Web site, such as free informational downloads with registration. ASA's Web site now attracts 6,000 unique visitors per day, with an average visitor stay of nine to 10 minutes. Also, the site is a strong tool for education and awareness. Beyond heavy use by people affected by autism, the U.S. government uses the ASA Web site to stay abreast of the latest information and media findings. Additionally, ASA uses Convio to drive online registration for and participation in its special events, including the annual Harley Davidson Ticket to Ride and also the Race for Hope. Typically, more than 80 percent of tickets for the Harley Davidson ride are purchased online. Using Convio online tools, the ASA is expanding this event into new markets. The Race for Hope features NASCAR drivers and is championed by driver Elliott Sadler, who has an autistic niece. ASA conducts all promotion and ticket sales online for this event, which raised $45,000 for autism research last year. "I am truly honored to receive this award on behalf of Convio. In the last year, we've been blessed to receive some very significant business accolades, but being honored by one of our clients -- especially the Autism Society of America, which has strategically integrated the Internet with such success -- is truly special," said Bhagat. "It reinforces why I founded Convio, why we all come to work each day, and the impact we strive to have on our clients' missions." About Autism Society of America Since its inception in 1965, the Autism Society of America has addressed the needs of the autism community across the lifespan. The ASA is the most widely recognized, oldest, and largest grassroots organization within the autism community, with more 50,000 members and supporters, and a network of over 200 chapters nationwide. Efforts through the national office, headquartered in Bethesda, MD, have secured more funding for autism research than those at any other organization. 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 solutions for fundraising and membership, advocacy, special events, volunteer fundraising, Web site management and email communications. All solutions include the Constituent360TM platform, a sophisticated, online marketing database that centralizes constituent data and integrates with offline databases. This gives organizations a unified view of constituent interests and motivations -- key for personalized and targeted outreach and communications. Convio also provides services and consulting to help organizations achieve success online. In addition to Autism Society of America, Convio's clients include the American Diabetes Association, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, AVON Foundation, Brady Campaign United with the Million Mom March, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Chicago Public Radio, Easter Seals, Farm Aid, Georgetown University, KCET Community Television of Southern California, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, National Trust For Historic Preservation, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. For more information, please visit www.convio.com. Whitney Wood Otstott |
|
Copyright 2000-2008, Convio Inc.
All rights reserved.