Craig’s new list

Craig Newmark ’75, MS ’77, whose online classified service became an internet phenomenon, is cementing his reputation as a philanthropist. In December, Newmark joined other wealthy people in signing the Giving Pledge, vowing to donate his fortune to charity.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy wrote about his pledge and his evolution into a more thoughtful and focused donor. After years of dispersing his money widely, Newmark is focusing on two priorities — cybersecurity and military veterans and their families.

“I’ll do random things that strike my fancy every now and then, but I work hard on staying focused,” he told the Chronicle. The famed alumnus has contributed to his alma mater. For example, Newmark funded the launch of CWRU’s Women in Tech Initiative with a $100,000 gift in 2018. But others have benefitted far more from his largess.

Newmark has given roughly $450 million to charity and committed tens of millions more, the Chronicle reported.

A computer science major at Case Institute of Technology, Newmark made his fortune from Craigslist, the online classified site where people can buy or sell most anything. The mostly free listing platform accelerated the demise of newspapers by siphoning away classified ad revenue. Journalism became one of the first priorities of Craig Newmark Philanthropies. The graduate school of journalism at the City University of New York was named for Newmark following a $20 million gift in 2018. Last year, he gave the school an additional $10 million.

Newmark helps veterans and their families through both the Bob Woodruff Foundation and Blue Star Families. He has committed $25 million over five years to each charity, according to the Chronicle. He also supports a range of cybersecurity and scam-prevention organizations, including Consumer Reports and Common Sense Media.

By signing the Giving Pledge, Newmark and his wife, Eileen, have committed to donating at least half their assets to philanthropic causes during their lives or in their wills.

“I wanted to inspire really rich people — billionaires — to pony up some dough,” Newmark said. Signing the pledge “is good for my sense of absurdity,” he added. “I don’t look at myself as a big-deal philanthropist.”