JDRF selects Convio's Common Ground CRM for primary constituent relationship management

Sep 13 2010

Convio, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNVO) announced today that Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has selected Convio as their standard for constituent relationship management (CRM), online marketing and fundraising, and special events for JDRF's national headquarters and all chapters. JDRF will use Convio's integrated, on-demand marketing, fundraising and advocacy suite to power and support their efforts to engage constituents and raise money. Common Ground CRM™ will serve as the organization's primary constituent relationship management (CRM) system, and JDRF will implement Convio TeamRaiser™ to power online registration, fundraising and participant communications for their signature Walk to Cure Diabetes events.

“We are honored that JDRF has selected Convio Common Ground, Online Marketing and Fundraising and TeamRaiser to help take JDRF's engagement and relationship efforts to new levels”

"We're excited to be working with Convio because we anticipate that their technology will allow us to more effectively reach and engage a larger type 1 diabetes audience," said James Szmak, Chief Information Officer of JDRF. "Their services will help us to optimize our fundraising efforts, which in turn enable us to support critical research to improve the lives of those living with type 1 diabetes today and into the future."

Common Ground for Relationship Management

JDRF has selected Common Ground as their standard CRM system for both their chapters and headquarters. Designed to be simple and flexible, Common Ground allows nonprofits to manage all the relationships needed to fulfill their mission. Since Common Ground was introduced in late 2008, more than 250 charities have chosen Common Ground to replace their traditional donor database.

"With more relationships and means of communicating at our disposal than ever before, JDRF needs a CRM system that helps us execute campaigns that integrate online, direct mail and other fundraising and marketing channels," said Szmak. "Implementing Common Ground will also enable JDRF to share information in a way that caters to how our constituents prefer to consume information, both on and offline."

Walk to Cure Diabetes to Leverage Personal and Social Networks With TeamRaiser™

Convio TeamRaiser is a robust online solution for tapping into the personal networks of supporters over the Internet. Using Convio TeamRaiser, JDRF will be able to empower volunteer fundraisers, individuals and/or teams to more simply and easily create and maintain their own fundraising web sites, as well as manage email communication between members, family and friends regarding their participation. TeamRaiser allows walk participants to post photos, links, provide progress reports and manage secure online and offline donations in support of their efforts. Convio's open APIs will allow participants and JDRF to leverage social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, making it easier for constituents to make donations, communicate with family and friends or participate in events through their social networks. The platform will integrate with the existing technology systems at JDRF to enable the organization to access reports and information and to more effectively and efficiently manage events.

"We are honored that JDRF has selected Convio Common Ground, Online Marketing and Fundraising and TeamRaiser to help take JDRF's engagement and relationship efforts to new levels," said Gene Austin, Chief Executive Officer for Convio. "Changing demographics and technology are driving a shift in philanthropic engagement, as the Internet and traditional communications and fundraising channels become more intertwined. Our modern software-as-a-service model provides JDRF best-in-class software to support its needs and our open platform allows JDRF to integrate with new and emerging technologies such as mobile and social to more easily reach the many audiences affected by this disease. Our TeamRaiser software will also make it simple for JDRF's most ardent supporters and other event participants to share their passion for helping people with type 1 diabetes live better, longer and healthier lives, through their personal fundraising and communications efforts."

The online fundraising and marketing transaction closed in the second quarter of 2010, while the Common Ground transaction closed in early Q3. Both parts of the transaction were referred to generically in Convio's Q2 earnings call on August 5, 2010. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.