Craigslist founder Craig Newmark launched craigconnects, a web-based initiative to help people work together for the common good using the Internet. Craigconnects seeks to identify, connect and protect organizations engaged in work that is truly sustainable - socially responsible, self-perpetuating and replicable. The initiative's primary platform is a new website, www.craigconnects.org.
The initial list of organizations includes dozens working in the areas of community building, social media for social progress, journalism integrity, open and accountable government, service and volunteering, veterans' issues, and peace in the Middle East. The public is invited to submit recommendations for others to be added to the list via the craigconnects website.
"I've been doing this for nonprofits, but much more informally, for maybe 10 years, applying a lot of what I've learned doing customer service for craigslist," said Newmark. "Now I think it's time to get deadly serious."
The website will also serve as a channel through which Newmark's support as a speaker, board member, social media champion, traditional media source, can be solicited.
Craigconnects is not a fundraising or grant-giving organization. It is also an entirely separate entity from craigslist.