September/October 2004

New Approaches for High-Impact Marketing and Fundraising

by Gene Austin, Chief Executive Officer, Convio

Many nonprofit organizations today are successfully incorporating the Internet into their overall fundraising and marketing strategies. As Internet use rises, online software and services become more sophisticated, new online approaches emerge and the Internet becomes an even more powerful and valuable fundraising and marketing tool.

In this issue of Convio Connection, two articles highlight some of the newest approaches for online success. In Leveraging Web Sites for High-Impact Marketing, Convio founder and chief strategy officer, Vinay Bhagat, explains why many organizations are transforming their Web sites from online brochures into robust marketing tools. Beyond Email Greeting Cards takes a look at how Convio’s eCard capabilities allow any organization to leverage one of their greatest assets — existing supporters — for growing an email address file, getting more people to take action on urgent campaigns and more.

Also in this issue: Major Gifts and Internet Strategy Go Hand-in-Hand, by guest columnist Mike Hoffman, chairman of Changing Our World. Mike describes how the Internet can play an important role in developing relationships with major donors.

Take a look, too, at this edition’s Ask the Expert article, where Convio’s chief technology officer, David Crooke, answers a question that likely is on the minds of many nonprofit professionals: What do organizations need to know about credit card security when adding online donation processing to their Web sites?

Additionally, we’ve included a case study about how the Texas State Alumni Association used email and its Web site to improve alumni communications and boost alumni involvement. And, find out how the Association expects, within one year, to more than pay for its investment in Convio through increased online sales and donations plus cost savings.
 
We trust that this issue of Convio Connection will give you ideas about new approaches that you can begin using today for highly effective marketing and fundraising. 

P.S. Did you enjoy reading this issue of Convio Connection? Why not forward it to a colleague who might also find it helpful?