Craig Newmark

Craig Newmark is an internet entrepreneur and philanthropist recognized as the founder of Craigslist, a web-based platform that transformed classified advertising and community engagement. Before establishing Craigslist, Newmark worked as a contract computer programmer for companies including Bank of America and Sun Microsystems. His first position after college was with IBM, where he spent 17 years as a programmer and systems engineer. While serving as an IT consultant for Charles Schwab, Newmark began circulating emails to friends and colleagues about events in the San Francisco Bay Area. As interest grew, users suggested additional services such as job postings, sale items, and apartment listings, which Newmark gradually incorporated. He launched craigslist.org, enabling people to exchange information, primarily without charge.

Initially an email list, Craigslist evolved into a globally recognized website serving millions of users. Newmark emphasized community service and user experience over commercialization, prioritizing civic engagement. The website receives more than 30 billion page views per month, has 50 million users in the United States, and supports 12 languages. Newmark stepped down as chief executive officer and handed the role to Jim Buckmaster, no longer participating in the platform's daily operations. Time Magazine named Newmark among the 100 people shaping the world.

Newmark has used his wealth to support philanthropic causes, focusing on journalism, cybersecurity, and technology access. He founded Craig Newmark Philanthropies, which consolidates his charitable initiatives. Newmark contributed $50 million to support military families, voter registration, and women in technology, and has given more than $500 million to veterans and military families, nonpartisan journalism, cybersecurity education, hunger relief, and animal welfare. He established a $20 million endowment at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, now the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, and provided $5 million to the Poynter Institute to create the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership. He also donated $10 million to Columbia University to establish a center for journalism ethics and security and a professorship.

In cybersecurity, Newmark committed $50 million to the Cyber Civil Defense initiative and later increased his donations to $100 million to address cyber threats. He pledged an additional $100 million to organizations supporting veterans and military families. The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Newmark among the top individual donors, with total giving of $100 million. He has signed the Giving Pledge and focuses his philanthropic strategy on cybersecurity and supporting military families and veterans. Newmark credits his Sunday School teachers, Holocaust survivors, with shaping his ethical outlook and commitment to treating others with respect. His ongoing work in technology, philanthropy, journalism, and cybersecurity reflects a dedication to strengthening democracy and supporting those who serve the country.