New England Center for the Performing Arts Leverages Brainshark to Attract Donors for $33 Million Capital Campaign

WALTHAM, Mass., June 2, 2009 — Brainshark, Inc., a leader in on-demand presentations, today announced that the New England Center for the Performing Arts is the latest grant recipient in the Brainshark Non-Profit Program. With the grant, the center will leverage Brainshark to create high-impact, on-demand multimedia presentations to increase awareness and galvanize volunteers and prospective donors.

The New England Center for the Performing Arts, based in Franklin, Mass., offers extracurricular performing arts education and training for students of all ages, as well as performing arts production and presentation programming. Under the Brainshark Non-Profit Program, the center has received a one-year Brainshark software license, enabling it to use Brainshark's on-demand presentations, which transform static business content into visually compelling presentations that incorporate audio, as well as videos, surveys and polls, attachments and more.

Using Brainshark, the center plans to market its offerings to a broader demographic, as well as increase awareness of its current capital campaign -- a $33 million fundraising effort -- and effectively reach out to prospective donors. The campaign is raising money for a new, accessible arts education facility and mainstage theatre that will increase capacity and enable the center to impact thousands more lives. The new complex will also enable the center to expand its offerings to senior citizens and individuals with special needs, as well as provide scholarships to underserved youth in the region.

"Brainshark allows us to increase our reach to our donor base, train volunteers and strengthen relationships with all of our constituencies -- and do it all in a measurable way so we know exactly how our messages are being received," said Alan Mercer, director of advancement for the New England Center for the Performing Arts. "No longer can we rely on traditional methods like print brochures or the telephone to reach people. Non-profit organizations realize the importance of utilizing social media tools and e-mail capture as critical components of a successful fundraising campaign. With innovative tools like Brainshark, we can share our story in more powerful, convenient and cost-effective ways."