Convio’s Vinay Bhagat Named 2006 Fundraising Professional of the Year

Internet Visionary Recognized for Dedication to Nonprofit Sector and Helping Organizations Leverage Online Channel

AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 23, 2006) Internet visionary and nonprofit sector thought leader Vinay Bhagat, founder and chief strategy officer of Convio, Inc., has been named 2006 Fundraising Professional of the Year by FundRaising Success magazine.

Bhagat received top honors in the publication’s “agency” category which recognizes consultants and professionals who work for agencies or other companies that provide products and services to nonprofit organizations. Staff members at FundRaising Success selected winners based primarily on how much an individual’s work embodies values or trends that enrich the nonprofit sector as a whole.

“Vinay’s deep commitment to nonprofits and his genuine desire to make a difference is helping to change the face of philanthropy in our country,” said Margaret Battistelli, Editor-in-Chief, FundRaising Success. “His grasp of the importance of integrating technology into the many aspects of traditional fundraising makes Vinay a formidable partner for nonprofits all sizes and missions.”

Bhagat has been a driving force behind the nonprofit sector’s increasing adoption of the Internet as a key channel for fundraising and other mission-critical activities. Convio, which Bhagat founded in 1999, is the leading provider of on-demand software and services to help nonprofits use the Internet for building strong constituent relationships that drive fundraising, awareness and enduring support. Convio now serves more than 500 organizations, including many of the nation’s largest multi-affiliate charitable groups.

Bhagat came up with the idea for Convio after volunteering at a public television pledge drive and realizing an opportunity to apply for-profit Internet principles to nonprofit organizations. At the time, he was director of ecommerce at a leading Austin-based software company where he was helping Fortune 500 companies develop their Internet strategies.

“It is truly an honor to receive this award, and even more gratifying to know that the vision I embarked upon in founding Convio seven years ago has enabled nonprofits to raise the bar on their fundraising programs and become more effective,” said Bhagat. “It has been thrilling to witness the evolution of the nonprofit sector. Several years ago, very few nonprofits were doing anything meaningful online, but today it has become such an important fundraising and marketing medium for so many organizations.”

The FundRaising Success award is the latest in a series that Bhagat has received since starting Convio. He also: received the Austin Business Journal’s "Rising Star" award, which honors people shaping the future of technology in Central Texas; was nominated as a finalist by PoliticsOnline as one of the world’s 25 most influential people in online politics; and won an annual Corporate Leadership Award from the Autism Society of America, a Convio client.