Now Showing: American Film Institute Selects Convio to Increase Membership and Fundraising

Nation’s Pre-eminent Film Institute Will Use Nonprofit Sector’s Leading Internet Solution to Interact More Effectively with Supporters and Drive Online Giving

AUSTIN, TEXAS (December 12, 2006) The American Film Institute (AFI), recognized world-wide as a leader in providing screen education and celebrating excellence in filmmaking, has selected Convio Internet tools to communicate more effectively with supporters, attract new members and strengthen online fundraising.

Convio is the leading provider of online constituent relationship management solutions (eCRM) for nonprofits. The company's on-demand software and services help organizations use the Internet for developing strong constituent relationships to drive fundraising and other forms of enduring support.

AFI will use Convio Internet tools to communicate more effectively online with the institute's large and diverse constituency. Convio's eCRM solution will help the institute better use the Internet to learn more about the organization's constituents, such as their motivations for giving or potential interest in the institute's various programs. AFI then can use such information, which now will be stored in a centralized online database, to more efficiently communicate with current and potential members using email, as well as aid in creating Web site content that is more relevant to individual constituent interests. More frequent and personalized communications help organizations strengthen relationships with constituents, increase loyalty and encourage giving and ongoing support.

"By better understanding our constituents who support AFI's multiple programs, our organization will be able to interact with a much larger audience in a more sophisticated manner," said Jonathan Estrin, Executive Vice President, American Film Institute. "This is critical in helping AFI continue to grow our membership, share our valuable assets and ultimately drive giving. Convio is a strategic Internet partner that will help us stay ahead of the curve with our marketing and fundraising needs." 

With Convio, AFI also will be able to conduct more effective integrated marketing campaigns. By combining constituent data stored in the organization's offline databases with information from its Convio-powered online database, Constituent360™, AFI will have a more comprehensive view of its supporters, such as their participation in AFI events, giving history, etc. The institute then can conduct more targeted online communications which closely align with and promote offline events.

"Convio's market-leading Internet tools will enable the American Film Institute to gain a much deeper understanding of its entire constituent base and move away from operating as a group of individual and unrelated programs," said Gene Austin, CEO, Convio, Inc. "This is an important step toward providing better overall value to AFI's members and ensuring the organization can continue to attract new supporters and increase giving well into the future."

About the American Film Institute

AFI is a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media.  AFI trains the next generation of filmmakers at its world-renowned Conservatory, maintains America's film heritage through the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and explores new digital technologies in entertainment and education through the AFI Digital Content Lab and K-12 Screen Education Center. As the largest nonprofit exhibitor in the United States, AFI ON SCREEN encompasses the annual AFI FEST presented by Audi: AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival-as well as year-round programming at ArcLight Hollywood and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, including SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival.  AFI AWARDS, the annual almanac for the 21st century, honors the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year, while AFI's 100 Years . . . series has ignited extraordinary public interest in classic American movies. And, during the past 34 years, AFI's Life Achievement Award has become the highest honor for a career in film. Additional information about AFI is available at http://www.afi.com/.

About Convio

Convio is the leading provider of on-demand software and services to help nonprofits use the Internet strategically to build strong relationships with constituents for driving fundraising, advocacy and other forms of support. Convio has online solutions for fundraising, advocacy, Web content management, event fundraising, ecommerce and email communications. All solutions include the Constituent360™ platform, a sophisticated, online marketing database that centralizes constituent data and integrates with offline databases.

Convio has been named one of the fastest growing private companies in the nation by Inc. magazine. In addition to the American Film Institute, Convio's clients include American Red Cross, American Diabetes Association, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, AVON Foundation, Easter Seals, Farm Aid, Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Trust For Historic Preservation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Thirteen/WNET New York. For more information, please visit www.convio.com.

Press contact:
Thomas Aitchison
Corporate Communications Manager
Convio, Inc.
taitchison@convio.com
512.652.2632