Ocean Conservancy Taps Convio to Expand Online Constituent Base for Advocacy and Fundraising

Leading U.S. Environmental Group's First Convio-Powered Advocacy Campaign Issues Call-to-Action to President Bush

AUSTIN, TEXAS (November 17, 2004) —

The Ocean Conservancy — the world's foremost advocate for the oceans and one of America's top 100 charities, according to Worth Magazine — now is using Convio to increase its base of constituents for advocacy, giving and other types of mission-critical participation.

The Ocean Conservancy's first Convio-powered online advocacy campaign, now underway through December 20, calls on President Bush to support a variety of policies and actions that would improve the stewardship of coastal and ocean ecosystems. The campaign is based on recommendations made in the Sept. 20 report issued by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. In addition to mobilizing public support for the commission's recommendations, the campaign also will help The Ocean Conservancy increase the number of dedicated ocean advocates by simultaneously asking constituents to opt-in to receive periodic updates and communications.

Convio provides market-leading software and services that help nonprofits use the Internet for developing strong constituent relationships to drive fundraising, marketing, advocacy and other forms of support. The Ocean Conservancy is the latest addition to Convio's growing client roster of environment advocacy organizations. Through research, education, and science-based advocacy, The Ocean Conservancy promotes healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems and opposes practices that threaten ocean life and human life.

"The Internet is one of the most powerful tools available today to nonprofits, especially for advocacy or cause-driven organizations that need to mobilize large constituencies to take action on public policy issues," said David Dickson, director of constituency development for The Ocean Conservancy. "Convio has an outstanding track record in helping nonprofits attract and motivate supporters to respond to action alerts, donate, or participate in events."

With Convio, The Ocean Conservancy is able, for the first time, to fully leverage its Web site to develop strong relationships with constituents and efficiently prompt them to take action. Constituents can sign up via the Web site to receive the organization's eNewsletter, Ocean Currents, while also opting in to receive additional, personalized email communications based on their interests. The Ocean Conservancy is using Convio's email marketing tools to inform constituents about the report recently issued by U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and then drive them to the Web site for signing the online petition to President Bush. The group also can use Convio to cross-market to constituents — for example, it can send emails to advocates asking them to donate and/or to donors with appeals to respond to action alerts. Additionally, The Ocean Conservancy's Convio-powered Web site now is set up for supporters to purchase memberships, including gift memberships for the holidays.

"The Ocean Conservancy is smart to invest in online tools for building a strong constituency that will support fulfillment of its important mission in multiple ways," said Gene Austin, CEO, Convio, Inc. "The current advocacy campaign is a great example of how the Internet uniquely can enable an organization to really have an impact by getting its message in front of the right people in real time."

About The Ocean Conservancy

The Ocean Conservancy promotes healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems and opposes practices that threaten ocean life and human life. Through research, education, and science-based advocacy, The Ocean Conservancy informs, inspires, and empowers people to speak and act on behalf of the oceans. In all its work, The Ocean Conservancy strives to be the world's foremost advocate for the oceans. The Ocean Conservancy Web site is http://www.oceanconservancy.org/.

About Convio, Inc.

Convio is the leading provider of software and services that help nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions use the Internet to build strong constituent relationships to drive support and participation. Convio has online solutions for fundraising and membership, advocacy, special events, volunteer fundraising, Web site management and email communications. All solutions include the Constituent360™ platform, a sophisticated, online marketing database that centralizes constituent data and integrates with offline databases. This gives organizations a unified view of constituent interests and motivations — key for personalized and targeted outreach and communications. Convio also provides services and consulting to help organizations achieve success online.

In addition to The Ocean Conservancy, Convio's clients include American Diabetes Association, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, AVON Foundation, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Easter Seals, Farm Aid, Georgetown University, KCET Community Television of Southern California, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, National Trust For Historic Preservation and The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information, please visit www.convio.com.

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