Convio TeamRaiser™ Powers Five of Top Ten US Events in Run Walk Ride Thirty Survey; Accounts for 60 Percent of Online Revenue

Integrating Online and Offline, TeamRaiser Client Events Raised More Than $1 Billion in 2008

Austin, Texas (March 10, 2009) —

Convio, Inc., the leading provider of on-demand constituent relationship management software and services to nonprofit organizations, today announced that ConvioTeamRaiser, a tool for organization-hosted event fundraising, powers five of the top ten fundraising events nationwide, as ranked by The Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council’s 2008 industry study. Convio clients generated 60 percent of all monies raised by the top ten events in The Run Walk Ride Thirty. Additionally, Convio clients using TeamRaiser as part of their special fundraising events raised more than $1 billion in 2008 —  an 11 percent increase from 2007 — outpacing the 7.6 percent average growth of the top 30 programs in the study.

“Providing strategies and technology that enables participants and volunteers to use their social networks to reach, inspire and mobilize others to volunteer or donate funds is proving to be the most effective way for charities to grow their special event fundraising,” said Gene Austin, chief executive officer for Convio. “While these results reflect the largest events in the nonprofit world, small nonprofits are effectively using TeamRaiser to grow their events and engage new constituents as well. With TeamRaiser, nonprofits of all shapes and sizes have the capability to make supporters more successful than ever and, in turn, build awareness, engage more people and raise more money.”

TeamRaiser is a complete online software solution designed to improve participant recruitment, maximize event revenue, as well as build participant loyalty to an event and the organization. Charities use TeamRaiser to create event greeting sites, customizable online registration forms, and special options for team-based events. The tool allows participants to create personal fundraising pages while using email and social media to tap into their personal networks to recruit other participants and raise funds.

“While there are many strategies, characteristics and other influences that come together to make events successful,” explained David Hessekiel, president of the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council, “it is clear that skillful use of software, services and best practices such as those included in Convio TeamRaiser can have a significant, positive impact on the success of fundraising events.”

Convio powers more of the top 30 US events than any other provider. The top five programs in terms of absolute growth and four of the top five based on percentage revenue growth all use Convio TeamRaiser. 

The top five programs in terms of absolute dollar growth were:

• $24.0 million  Relay for Life  American Cancer Society
• $23.2 million  Breast Cancer 3-Day  National Philanthropic Trust
• $18.7 million  Race for the Cure  Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
• $10.0 million  Making Strides  American Cancer Society
• $9.0 million  Avon Walk for Breast Cancer  Avon Foundation

The top five programs by percentage revenue growth were:

• 26.7% to $110.0 million  Breast Cancer 3-Day  National Philanthropic Trust
• 20.5% to $11.7 million  Arthritis Walk  Arthritis Foundation
• 20.0% to $60.0 million  Making Strides  American Cancer Society
• 19.8% to $113.2 million  Race for the Cure  Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
• 19.2% to $56.0 million  Avon Walk for Breast Cancer  Avon Foundation

“We are excited about the special event results that our clients are having, and we’re proud that TeamRaiser plays an important role in their success,” added Austin. “We congratulate the staff and volunteers of these fine organizations and look forward to helping them use technology to move people for many years to come.”

The Run Walk Ride Thirty is primarily based on survey responses from the professionals who manage well-known athletic event fundraising programs. If a nonprofit does not participate, the council seeks out public information to obtain key statistics. A study summary is available on the Run Walk Ride website at www.runwalkride.com

Event Best Practices Guide Available
Convio and Event 360, Inc., with support from the Run Walk Ride Council, compiled five best practices that nonprofits can implement to increase fundraising growth and event participation based on joint research into some of the nation’s most successful charity fundraising events. The guide is free at www.convio.com/rwr2009.

About Convio
Convio is the leading provider of on-demand constituent relationship management (CRM) software and services that give nonprofit organizations a better way to inspire and mobilize people to support their organization. The company’s online marketing suite offers integrated software for fundraising, advocacy, events, email marketing and Web content management, and its CRM system, Convio Common Ground™, helps organizations efficiently track and manage all interactions with supporters. All Convio products are delivered through the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model and are backed by a portfolio of best-in-class consulting and support services and a network of partners who provide value-added services and applications focused on the unique needs of nonprofit organizations.  

Convio clients include nonprofit organizations, Institutions of Higher Education, Associations and Faith-based organizations around the world such as American Red Cross, American Diabetes Association, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Humane Society of the United States, Easter Seals, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and Sierra Club. For more information, please visit www.convio.com

Press Contact:
Karoline McLaughlin
Director, Corporate Communications
Convio, Inc.
kmclaughlin@convio.com
512-652-7865