Convio Launches First CRM System Designed for Non-Profit Sector

Convio RMS 2.0 Brings Power of Internet to Nonprofits

(Austin, TX, November 15, 2000) Convio, the online partner for nonprofits, today announced the launch of the Convio Relationship Management System 2.0 (RMS), the first CRM system designed for the nonprofit sector.

Convio RMS is an enterprise-class ASP solution that includes applications for managing online fundraising campaigns, events, content creation, and constituent interaction. Designed specifically as an outsourced solution for nonprofits, Convio RMS mitigates the need for in-house technical staff and costly equipment.

"Traditionally, the cost and technical expertise necessary to harness the power of the Internet has been prohibitive for the vast majority of nonprofits," said Vinay Bhagat, founder and CEO of Convio. "The Convio RMS brings the latest technological innovations to nonprofits at a fraction of the cost of custom technology development."

Using Convio RMS, nonprofits can create highly personalized communications with donors and other important constituents. Convio RMS allows nonprofits to create personalized, targeted email and web notifications to donors; build, manage and analyze targeted, personalized online fundraising campaigns and membership drives; create and publish web content without HTML knowledge, and; manage events online, including ticket sales. The system is managed through simple browser-based forms, letting a nonprofit professional create web pages and administer the system without technical assistance.

Convio RMS is built on a robust technology platform, designed to scale to the needs of large nonprofit organizations. It utilizes 100 percent server-side Java, and XML-based integration to communicate with legacy fundraising databases. To safeguard sensitive data, Convio RMS employs sophisticated database partitioning, encryption, firewalls and other security measures. Convio's hosting partner, Exodus Communications, provides robust, secure data center facilities.

"We're applying the type of robust technology that previously has only been utilized by large e-commerce players and Fortune 500 companies - the kind of technology that until now, nonprofits have been unable to afford," said Dr. David Crooke, Convio's CTO and co-founder. Founded in 1999, Convio is the leading Internet software company providing online relationship management and fundraising solutions to the nonprofit sector, including donor and member supported organizations. Based in Austin, TX, Convio is working with a number of Texas-based and national organizations in the nonprofit sector, including museums, public broadcast and radio stations, independent schools, multi-chapter groups, advocacy groups, healthcare organizations, and performing arts groups.