Austin-Based Internet Fundraising Experts at Convio to Launch Charter Customer Program in Houston

Company available to assist Houston nonprofit organizations in online fundraising and marketing efforts

(Austin, TX - August 8, 2000) Convio Inc., an Austin-based Internet software company providing online relationship management and fundraising solutions for nonprofit organizations, has announced it is launching a charter customer program in Houston. On August 16, 2000, fundraising and technology experts from Convio and Dini Partners will conduct a seminar at The St. Regis Hotel in the Colonnade Room, located at 1919 Briar Oaks Lane, for development and marketing professionals in the nonprofit sector.

"We've applied proven Internet marketing concepts from the for-profit sector to design an Internet solution specifically designed to revolutionize fundraising and marketing in the nonprofit sector." said Convio founder and CEO Vinay Bhagat."We're looking to Houston for innovative leaders of nonprofit organizations who recognize the value of one-to-one marketing and want to be recognized as pioneers."

Convio, founded in April 1999 with the backing of former university development directors and nonprofit organization board members, is on a mission to generate a $50 billion cost savings to the nonprofit sector over the next decade. The company?s software solution delivers one-to-one communication on the web that allows nonprofit organizations to develop stronger relationships with constituents. According to Bhagat, Convio offers nonprofits the chance to manage Web sites and streamline fundraising activities without requiring significant investments of in-house technical expertise. Internet fundraising offers more cost-effective fundraising possibilities than traditional means of funding solicitation, such as direct mail or telemarketing.

Kathleen Sutton, a principal and partner with The Dini Partners, a Houston-based consulting firm that specializes in philanthropy and nonprofit management, said that more and more nonprofits are recognizing the power of the Internet to assist in their fundraising efforts.

"The key to successful Internet marketing is aligning the latest technologies with the objectives of the organization and the donors alike," Sutton said. "Convio is providing nonprofit groups with groundbreaking solutions that will help them leverage the one-to-one marketing powers of the Internet."

"Traditional fundraising methods to date are an incredible drain on a nonprofit?s financial resources. Typically, nonprofits spend anywhere between 30-40 cents on every dollar raised primarily on paper and phone based communication," Bhagat said. "Our technology helps organizations reach existing and potential supporters in a more personalized and affordable manner, while enabling them to automate administrative tasks and use the Internet for other marketing initiatives."

Houston was targeted for the charter customer program, according to Bhagat, because of its combination of high Internet usage rates, reputation for philanthropy, and concentration of nonprofit organizations. The company, preparing a statewide launch later this summer and a nationwide launch this fall, is looking to initially anchor its customer base in Texas. Convio has already closed a one-year contract with the Austin Children?s Museum and is finalizing other contracts with a number of Austin nonprofits.