Dean For America Campaign

"The results we're getting with Convio truly show what the Internet can mean to an organization that needs to build support in all forms, including but not limited to fundraising."

- Tricia Enright, communications director, Dean For America Campaign

About Dean For America Campaign

In early 2003, Democratic presidential hopeful and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean faced a challenge: How could he make the most of a small staff and a limited budget while running a decentralized campaign? The solution: utilizing the Internet as an integral part of the campaign rather than an afterthought. The idea worked. On July 1, 2003, Dean announced that his campaign had raised more than $800,000 in a single day. Casual observers and political pundits were stunned — particularly because donations averaged just $74 and were made through a Web site. The Dean for America campaign raised $7.4 million online in the third quarter of 2003 — more than double the amount that the organization generated online in the previous quarter and half of its $14.8 million fundraising total for Q3 2003.

The Challenge The Solution Results

Recognized the Internet as a significant medium for constituent outreach, engagement and fundraising, and needed an online tool to execute those activities
  • Chose Convio to power its Web site and fundraising system
  • Use Convio to post content, manage fundraising campaigns, process credit card contributions and manage email list
  • Implemented Convio TeamRaiser™ to allow supporters to:
    • Create personal Web pages that explain why they support the candidate
    • Log in to a personal fundraising center to email solicitations to their contact lists
    • Check on responses and thank contributors
  • Raised nearly $3.6 million online in first 90 days using Convio software and services
  • Raised $800,000 online in one day (June 30)
  • Raised $7.4 million online in Q3 2003
  • Quadrupled email subscriber list — from 50,000 to 200,000 — in six-week period
  • 600,000+ email subscribers
  • Recruited more than 2,600 grassroots volunteer fundraisers to be "Dean Team" leaders who use Convio Internet tools to raise money and recruit new Dean supporters

Convio solutions used by Dean For America Campaign

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Dean For America Campaign - Case Study

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