Seva Foundation Boosts Holiday Fundraising Capacity Using Convio to Power its Gifts of Service(TM) eCommerce Site.International Health and Development Organization Uses Convio to Increase Fundraising, Process Online Gift Orders More Efficiently and Expand Outreach to a Wider Audience AUSTIN, Texas -- Despite news stories of concerns that a tight economy would affect the 2007 holiday giving season, nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. Seva Foundation (www.seva.org) increased the number of donations through its Gifts of Service(TM) campaign by 13% during peak fundraising (November 1 through December 21) as compared to the same period in 2006. Seva launched its Gifts of Service eCommerce Web site on Convio just in time for the holiday fundraising season, and is also using Convio for integrated web content management, email marketing, donation processing and data management solutions. Working in nine countries in addition to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Seva provides financial resources and technical expertise to help communities build sustainable solutions to poverty and disease. An early innovator of alternative gift giving, Seva launched Gifts of Service in 1986 as a print catalog offering a variety of projects that donors could choose to support. One of Seva's most important fundraisers, Gifts of Service now brings in over 25% of the organization's annual income. The campaign operates year round, yet about 85% of revenues come in during November and December. About half of the orders come in via the website, the others via mail or phone. When a donor selects something from the Gifts of Service catalog A service catalog, as defined in ITIL Service Delivery, is a list of services that an organization provides, often to its employees or customers. Each service within the catalog typically includes:
tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. message from the donor. The challenge for Seva is to process the gift cards efficiently, making sure they arrive on time, at the right place, with the right message. "Gifts of Service always had huge market potential, but we've been very conservative about promoting it because we haven't had the IT infrastructure to scale up the operation," explained Robin Woodland, Seva's Director of Communications Director of Communications is a position in the private and public sectors. The Director of Communications is responsible for managing and directing an organization's internal and external communications. . "We had so many manual steps for processing orders that we were always at risk of becoming overloaded and not being able to send the cards out fast enough. Using Convio makes the operation less labor-intensive and provides us with much faster, more accurate order processing. So even with the increased number of web orders this season, it was the smoothest campaign we've ever had." With Convio, Seva is ready to promote Gifts of Service to its full potential. Using Convio's integrated web, email and data management tools, the organization is planning to take full advantage of the opportunities for online marketing. "We're perfectly positioned to go full steam ahead," said Woodland. "Now that we can safely handle a higher sales volume, we're ready to open up Gifts of Service to a wider audience. Going forward, we'll focus on online marketing strategies as a low-cost way to increase Gifts of Service sales volume." About Seva Foundation Seva (say-va) is a Sanskrit word for service. Seva Foundation was formed in 1978 with a mission to alleviate suffering caused by poverty and disease. Operating in nine countries in addition to the United States, Seva provides financial resources and technical expertise to help communities build sustainable solutions that improve the health and economic security of people in need. Widely known for its sight-restoring eye care programs, Seva also works with indigenous communities in Guatemala and Mexico, along with Native American communities in the U.S., supporting projects in the area of health and wellness, community development, environmental protection and cultural preservation. For more information, please visit: www.seva.org. About Convio Convio is a leading provider of on-demand constituent relationship management software and services to nonprofit organizations Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. to enable nonprofit organizations to more effectively raise funds, influence public policy and support their missions by leveraging the Internet to build strong relationships with constituents. The Company's online constituent relationship management, or eCRM, solution includes a suite of on demand software modules for fundraising, advocacy, email marketing and Web content management complemented by a portfolio of best-in-class consulting services Noun 1. consulting service - service provided by a professional advisor (e.g., a lawyer or doctor or CPA etc.) service - work done by one person or group that benefits another; "budget separately for goods and services" . Convio's clients include American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. , American Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association, or the ADA, is an American health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of , American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (A.S.P.C.A.), chartered in 1866 in New York by Henry Bergh to shelter homeless animals, to assist farmers in caring for their livestock, and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the prosecution of , National Multiple Sclerosis Society The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a United States-based non-profit organization, and its network of chapters nationwide promote research, educate, advocate on issues relating to multiple sclerosis, and organize a wide range of programs, including support for the newly , Sierra Club Sierra Club, national organization in the United States dedicated to the preservation and expansion of the world's parks, wildlife, and wilderness areas. Founded (1892) in California by a group led by the Scottish-American conservationist John Muir, the Sierra Club , Susan G. Komen Foundation, and National Public Radio. For more information, please visit www.convio.com. |
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