"It’s a long-term effort, not a one-shot deal," said Newmark in a release. "I’m committing 20 years to craigconnects, focusing first on non-profits and public service organizations that get stuff done on a sustainable basis."
Newmark is focusing his efforts on seven primary areas of support: community building, journalism, the Middle East, open and accountable government, service and volunteering, technology for social good and veterans issues.
You can browse the full list of organizations Craigconnects supports; so far, endorsed entities include non-profits such as Wikipedia, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Kiva, Charity: Water and many more. Currently, the site features DonorsChoose.org, a non-profit that links would-be donors with classrooms in need of a little extra financial help.
Newmark says after 10 years of for-profit community-building via Craigslist, he's taking time to focus on this social good initiative "because it feels right."
Newmark is currently asking citizens of the web to check out the site's list of featured non-profits and "consider helping them," we're assuming through monetary donations or perhaps volunteerism.
The project won't be donating grants to these organizations itself; rather, this is more a call to arms for the millions of Internet users who have the willingness and ability to help affect social change and good. Craigconnects aims to support these non-profits with its public voice and to help them connect to interested donors and volunteers. Newmark also hopes the site and project can be used to defend the public from "fake organizations that have a good story, but actually end up hurting the people they profess to serve."