Major Jewish Campus Organization, Government Watchdog Group and Health Foundation Select Convio to Optimize Use of Internet

Washington, D.C.-based Hillel, Citizens Against Government Waste and Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Partner with Leading Internet Software Developer for Nonprofits

(Austin, TX, December 10, 2001) Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) and The Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OI Foundation) -- all Washington, D.C.-based, leading national organizations within their segments of the nonprofit sector -- have selected Convio to help optimize their use of the Internet in support of their missions. Convio is the foremost provider of integrated software that enables nonprofits to efficiently use the Internet to communicate and build relationships with constituents - key for developing and sustaining a loyal, involved base of supporters who contribute funding and participate in advocacy as well as other mission-critical activities.

"Hillel, CAGW, the OI Foundation and other top nonprofits are now leveraging the Internet as a strategic channel to build stronger constituent relationships - these groups understand that effective utilization of the Internet is a 'must have' element of any forward-thinking organization's integrated marketing strategy," said Vinay Bhagat, Convio's founder and CEO. "Convio's software tools make it easy for staff and volunteers without technical knowledge to use the Internet for generating high impact and high return-on-investment results."

Hillel and Convio

Founded in 1923, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world. Hillel gives Jewish college students the opportunity to learn about and celebrate their Jewishness through its worldwide network of foundations, program centers and affiliates. Hillel will use Convio to power the Web sites of selected groups in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and West Coast regions. Hillel's Convio system will be used to enhance communications with students, parents and alumni; to promote awareness of the organization among current and prospective students; and to implement online fundraising.

"It is only natural that Hillel should use next-generation technology to communicate with the next generation of our community's leadership," explained Hillel President and International Director Richard M. Joel. "Convio will help us to serve students and other constituents in a more effective, personal way."

CAGW and Convio

Founded in 1984 and representing more than one million members and supporters nationwide, CAGW is a non-partisan nonprofit dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in the federal government. In 17 years, the group has helped save U.S. taxpayers $686.7 billion. CAGW will use Convio to personalize email communications to constituents such as news alerts, e-newsletters to further involve them with the organization and also to drive them to the CAGW Web site, especially to pages for participating in online advocacy. CAGW will use Convio's reporting features to measure the effectiveness of its online communications, for example, how often constituents are clicking on email links to the group's Web site, and also newsletter subscription and unsubscription rates.

"What appeals to us most is that Convio's technology provides a way to easily integrate CAGW's Web presence with our traditional grassroots and fundraising activities," said Ariane Sweeney, CAGW's Vice President of Development. "Convio's software will allow us to interact with our members and supporters throughout the country in a way that previously could only be achieved through personal visits."

OI Foundation and Convio

Founded in 1970, the OI Foundation is the only voluntary national health organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with osteogenesis imperfecta through research to find treatments and a cure, education, awareness and mutual support. Affecting an estimated 20,000-50,000 people in the United States, osteogenesis imperfecta causes brittle bones that break easily. A cough or sneeze can break a rib; rolling over can break a leg. The OI Foundation will use Convio to: reach out to and educate new constituents impacted by the disorder; provide information and resources for medical professionals treating the condition; provide online support services including an "Information on Request" service to answer constituents' questions; and conduct online fundraising to support all OI Foundation programs and services.

"When a child is born with OI, parents and their physicians need immediate information about how to hold the child without breaking bones. Convio is helping the OI Foundation provide this vital information." said Heller Ann Shapiro, Executive Director of the OI Foundation. "With more than 76,000 visitors to our Web site last year, the OI Foundation selected Convio to help make the site more user-friendly and easier to navigate so that people can find the information they need when they need it."

About Convio

Founded in 1999, Austin-based Convio is the foremost provider of integrated software that enables nonprofits to efficiently use the Internet for building strong constituent relationships - key for fundraising, advocacy effectiveness and other mission-critical activities. Convio's nine modules delivered over the Internet empower organizations to: communicate often with supporters through email; wage fundraising, membership and advocacy campaigns; publish personalized and dynamic Web content; manage registrations, RSVPs, ticket sales and other event logistics; tap volunteers and their personal networks for campaigns; track constituent interactions; connect online systems to off-line donor databases; and more. Convio's technology platform automatically shares data among the suite's modules, giving administrators a unified view of each constituent's interests so staff can engage in more personalized, and targeted marketing. Convio also provides Internet marketing consulting services to help nonprofits adopt online marketing best practices.

Convio serves national and regional organizations in all segments of the nonprofit sector including advocacy, associations, disease and disorder, education, healthcare, human services, political campaigns, public broadcasting, museums and other visitation facilities. Clients include Planned Parenthood Federation of America, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The National Foundation for Cancer Research.