Our Mission

 

Craigslist Foundation works to connect people and organizations to the resources they need to strengthen communities and neighborhoods.

 

The Need

 

With the rising interest in community service and volunteerism, we want to ensure people have access to tools and innovations known to be useful in effecting change at a local level. Leaders in our key community organizations need to know what’s working in other locales.

 

Our Vision

 

We believe all stakeholders should work together to build stronger communities. The nonprofit sector cannot do it alone. As an operating foundation that does not provide grants, we aim to leverage our experience as convener and capacity builder – bringing together nonprofit leaders, business, government, philanthropy, and community members to take greater responsibility for where we live, play, and work. Building on the values of craigslist, we will help people and organizations discover the tools and resources they need to effectively engage in their communities and see the impact of their actions through the following lens:

 

DISCOVER – Community building begins with discovery - discovering where a community wants to go, what the best paths to success are, and what role each of us can play. Through our flagship annual conference, Craigslist Foundation Boot Camp, we will play a key role in developing community stewards nationwide. We are also exploring ways for communities to articulate their aspirations and their priority issues. We believe stories of success, failure and innovation help others achieve success more effectively, and we will develop online tools to distribute “What Works” stories widely.

 

ENGAGE – We will participate in the development of tools for active engagement in community building. For instance, through our recent work with Google, craigslist, members of the President’s Transition Team, and others in a volunteer coalition, allforgood.org was launched. All for Good helps people find meaningful service opportunities to fit their geography and passions. We will work to expand the reach and impact of this innovative open source / open data application.

 

IMPACT - We will connect individuals and organizations to ways to measure the impact of their community building efforts. By assessing progress against its own hopes and dreams, a community can continue the ongoing cycle of Discover/Engage/Impact.

 

Boot Camp 2010: Save The Date - August 14

 

We're excited to announce that we will return to UC Berkeley for Boot Camp 2010 on Saturday, August 14, 2010. More details to come as we confirm them. For quick access to Boot Camp news, sign up for our periodic newsletter, visit our blog, or follow us on Twitter.

 

Craigslist Foundation believes that strong communities and neighborhoods are the cornerstone of our society. Boot Camp is a unique event focused on helping people learn how to effect a positive impact in their communities and neighborhoods.

New Focus

 

In 2009, we expanded our nonprofit capacity building mission and Boot Camp's focus to bring together, cultivate conversation among, and showcase effective community leaders and programs that span all sectors: nonprofit, government, philanthropy, and business.

 

Attendees will discover resources, engage with like-minded people, and be inspired by success stories from local and national leaders, grassroots activists and neighborhood volunteers.

 

Wondering about Boot Camp? Explore information about Boot Camp 2009.