Craig Newmark Philanthropies awards grant to CIAS Community Cybersecurity Clinic

The grant will support a pioneering program that provides low- and no-cost cybersecurity services to organizations in need and hands-on workforce development opportunities for UT San Antonio students.

2025-09-30

(Press-News.org) The Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) at The University of Texas at San Antonio has received a $100,000 grant from Craig Newmark Philanthropies to support a pioneering program that provides low- and no-cost cybersecurity services to organizations in need while cultivating hands-on workforce development opportunities for UT San Antonio students.

CIAS Community Cybersecurity Clinic (C4) strengthens community safety and resilience by offering organizations cybersecurity services, such as training, reputation and information leak searches, vulnerability assessments, policy development and reviews and incident response plan (IRP) evaluations.

Often inaccessible to many small or under-resourced organizations, C4 services help improve digital resilience and reduce cybersecurity risks.

Impact on student development

Comprised of UT San Antonio cybersecurity undergraduate and graduate students, C4 is designed to prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professionals through real-world, practical experience. Students work alongside CIAS staff, gaining valuable skills in planning, conducting and completing cyber assistance for organizations of all sizes.

“This generous gift from Craig Newmark Philanthropies makes it possible for us to expand both our service to the community and our impact on student development,” said Natalie Sjelin, director of the CIAS. “C4 not only helps organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture but also creates a strong workforce pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals.”

Craig Newmark, philanthropist and founder of the online classified ad website Craigslist, has contributed more than $500 million to causes supporting veterans and military families, nonpartisan journalism, cybersecurity education, hunger relief and pigeon rescue.

Protecting infrastructure

His philanthropy focuses on safeguarding America’s security and strengthening communities.

“Protecting infrastructure is a seriously big deal,” said Newmark, founder of Craig Newmark Philanthropies. “CIAS does good work protecting communities who need a little help keeping our infrastructure safe while training folks who will get key cybersecurity jobs down the road. Their work is really good for the country.”

The gift will allow C4 to expand its reach to more organizations, broaden student training opportunities and reinforce the CIAS mission of advancing cybersecurity readiness across the nation.

The CIAS has been a national leader in cybersecurity education and community preparedness since 2002, developing innovative programs and resources used by K-12 schools, higher education institutions, government agencies and private-sector partners.

With the support of Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the CIAS will continue to expand its impact and ensure that individuals at every level have the tools and knowledge to meet today’s cybersecurity challenges.

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