Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2004
Using the Kintera Sphere software platform, SF Symphony will expand
its permission-based, one-to-one eMarketing to deliver personal and
relevant information to patrons
The San Francisco Symphony and online solutions provider Kintera Inc. are in perfect harmony together, with the shared goal of expanding the Symphony's one-to-one marketing strategies to build a stronger patron base. After a three-month search for a leading edge technology partner, the San Francisco Symphony selected Kintera to provide a flexible, easy-to-use software platform to enhance the organization's permission-based eMarketing efforts and create a robust online membership area, while integrating with the Symphony's existing customer service software.
"Choosing Kintera as our new technology partner was in direct response to the Symphony's need to provide the ultimate online experience for its patrons, through innovative online services that will also result in increasing online ticketing revenue for the 2003-2004 season by 16%," said Roger LaGreca, new media manager for the San Francisco Symphony. "By utilizing this new online system from Kintera, we plan to maximize eMarketing efforts, increase our patrons' use of the website by more than 20%, and realize our online revenue goals in the upcoming season."
With active ticket sales, loyal concertgoers and a successful business model, the San Francisco Symphony has been recognized as a leader of American symphony orchestras. The Bay Area Symphony has also been a leader in Internet marketing since 1998, first focusing on its web presence, and then embracing email marketing campaigns. Today, the organization's marketing activities have evolved from in-house efforts to alignment with a technology provider that understands the needs of the group, and can offer the expertise to help achieve the Symphony's goals.
The Kintera Sphere(TM) software platform will provide the San Francisco Symphony scalability, easy adoptability by various departments, and ease of use for online activities including:
-- Enhanced eMarketing -- Kintera's flexible online tools will
provide the Symphony with the latest in email marketing
technology, including high level tracking, real-time response
and proven effectiveness. Kintera software offers
permission-based eMarketing solutions with sophisticated data
collection capabilities, and the ability to integrate with an
offline database.
-- Robust membership area -- Within the Symphony website,
www.sfsymphony.org, patrons will soon be able to login to
their own personalized home page. Membership management tools
developed by Kintera will allow patrons to control their
preferences, manage contact information and subscribe to a
variety of eNewsletters. Here they can also view personalized
content and receive targeted messages inviting them to
upcoming concerts and special events, based on their
preferences.
"Savvy arts organizations are moving into high tech marketing solutions so that they can better serve their patrons and grow their funding base," added Harry Gruber, founder and CEO of Kintera, which has signed contracts with over 500 nonprofit organizations since launching its "software as a service" business in the first quarter of 2001. "Together with Kintera, the Symphony will be able to develop a solid foundation for permission-based, one-to-one marketing that includes the delivery of personalized and relevant information to patrons."
About the San Francisco Symphony
Founded in 1911, the San Francisco Symphony has a long and distinguished history marked by artistic excellence, dedication to community, educational initiatives, international tours, acclaimed Grammy Award-winning recordings, and innovative programming for which the Orchestra has garnered numerous awards. Now in their 9th season together, Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony have formed a musical partnership recognized as one of the most adventurous and inspiring in the world today. The Orchestra's many educational and community programs include sfskids.com, an online music education resource for children and families, and a major multimedia project about classical music launching in spring 2004 with national PBS telecasts. For additional information, visit www.sfsymphony.org.
About Kintera Inc.
Kintera is an innovative provider of software as a service that helps nonprofit organizations foster a powerful sense of community to achieve their mission. Kintera's Knowledge Interaction technology strengthens an organization's community by providing volunteers, members, donors and staff web-based tools to efficiently fulfill their tasks and share real-time data and information. The company's Internet innovations include its Friends Asking Friends(R) solicitation program and Kintera Sphere(TM), an enterprise-grade software system that provides content management, contact management, communication tools, commerce applications, community-building features and reporting functions. Kintera's technology is built on a unified database and payment processing engine. A web browser is all that is needed to use Kintera Sphere(TM) to help increase donations, reduce fundraising costs and build awareness and affinity for a cause. For more information and an online demo, visit Kintera at www.kintera.com.
In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, express or implied statements regarding the adoption of Internet marketing efforts by particular customers) that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date hereof. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: our limited operating history; our history of losses; our dependence on increased acceptance by nonprofit organizations of online fundraising; lengthy sales cycles for major customers; our need to manage growth; risks associated with accounting for and processing large amounts of donations; the rapidly changing technologies and market demands; and other risks identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
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