Craig Newmark Philanthropies Funds New York University Cybersecurity Clinic to Protect Nonprofits, Schools, and Community Organizations from Cybercrime
Cybersecurity threats continue to rise worldwide, with nonprofit organizations, schools, community health centers, shelters, legal aid organizations, and small community groups increasingly becoming targets of ransomware, phishing attacks, fraud, identity theft, deepfakes, and other forms of cybercrime. Unfortunately, many of these organizations lack the financial resources and technical expertise needed to defend themselves effectively.
To address this growing challenge, Craig Newmark Philanthropies has provided funding to establish the New York University (NYU) Cybersecurity Clinic, a groundbreaking initiative that will provide free cybersecurity support to mission driven organizations across New York City.
The clinic will be housed within the NYU Center for Cybersecurity, bringing together experts from the NYU School of Law and the NYU Tandon School of Engineering to deliver practical cybersecurity services while training the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Addressing the Growing Threat of Cybercrime
Cybercrime has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Organizations that provide critical services to communities are increasingly vulnerable to attacks because they often operate with limited budgets and small technology teams.
Many nonprofit organizations now face threats such as:
- Ransomware attacks
- Phishing scams
- Social engineering attacks
- Cloud security vulnerabilities
- Identity theft
- AI generated deepfakes
- Fraud
- Data breaches
- Disinformation campaigns
These attacks can interrupt essential services, expose sensitive personal information, damage public trust, and create significant financial losses.
The newly established NYU Cybersecurity Clinic aims to strengthen the cyber resilience of organizations that otherwise cannot afford professional cybersecurity services.
What the NYU Cybersecurity Clinic Will Offer
The clinic will provide free, practical cybersecurity assistance to eligible organizations throughout New York City.
Its services will include:
- Cybersecurity risk assessments
- Cybersecurity awareness and staff training
- Technology and governance guidance
- Incident response planning
- Recovery planning after cyber incidents
- Cybersecurity best practices implementation
- Public private information sharing
- Security resilience planning
The clinic will also help organizations strengthen their cybersecurity hygiene by promoting:
- Multi factor authentication
- Cloud security practices
- Phishing prevention
- Social engineering awareness
- Risk management strategies
It is important to note that while the clinic will provide extensive cybersecurity support, it will not provide legal advice or legal representation.
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Cybersecurity
One of the unique aspects of the NYU Cybersecurity Clinic is its interdisciplinary model.
Rather than relying solely on technical experts, the clinic will combine expertise from multiple disciplines, including:
- Computer science
- Engineering
- Law
- Public policy
- Cybersecurity governance
Faculty members, fellows, and specially trained students from both the NYU School of Law and the NYU Tandon School of Engineering will work together under faculty supervision to support client organizations.
This collaborative model ensures that organizations receive comprehensive guidance addressing both technical and organizational cybersecurity challenges.
Training Future Cybersecurity Professionals
Beyond serving community organizations, the clinic will also play an important educational role.
Students participating in the clinic will gain real world experience by working directly with organizations facing genuine cybersecurity challenges.
Through this hands on learning experience, students will develop expertise in:
- Cyber defense
- Risk assessment
- Incident response
- Cybersecurity governance
- Technology policy
- Practical cybersecurity consulting
This approach prepares graduates to understand cybersecurity from multiple perspectives rather than focusing only on technical solutions.
Built on NYU’s Strong Cybersecurity Foundation
The NYU Center for Cybersecurity was established in 2015 and has become one of the leading interdisciplinary cybersecurity research centers in the United States.
The center brings together more than 50 faculty members specializing in:
- Cybersecurity
- Computer science
- Law
- Public policy
NYU Tandon School of Engineering is also recognized by the United States National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence in:
- Cyber Defense
- Cyber Operations
- Cyber Research
The university already offers interdisciplinary cybersecurity degree programs, including:
- Master of Science in Cybersecurity
- Master of Science in Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy
The new clinic builds upon this strong academic foundation by applying research and education directly to community service.
Joining the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics
The NYU Cybersecurity Clinic will become part of the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, a national network originally co founded in 2021 by the University of California, Berkeley Center for Long Term Cybersecurity.
According to the announcement, the consortium currently includes:
- 61 cybersecurity clinics
- 29 United States states
- Eight countries
As of June 2025, consortium members had:
- Trained 3,766 students
- Supported 921 client organizations
Joining this network will allow NYU to collaborate with other institutions working to improve cybersecurity for vulnerable organizations.
Collaboration with Government Partners
The clinic also plans to work closely with government agencies to improve cybersecurity coordination.
Planned partners include:
- NYC Cyber Command
- New York State Chief Cyber Officer
- Federal law enforcement agencies
These collaborations will support:
- Threat intelligence sharing
- Coordinated incident response
- Development of cybersecurity policy frameworks
Leadership Perspectives
Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, emphasized that under resourced organizations carry a disproportionate cybersecurity burden despite lacking sufficient resources to defend themselves. He noted that NYU’s combination of legal, engineering, and policy expertise positions the university to train future cyber defenders while supporting organizations that need assistance most.
Leaders at the NYU Center for Cybersecurity also highlighted that cybersecurity extends beyond technology. Effective cyber defense requires understanding legal responsibilities, organizational governance, policy considerations, and human behavior in addition to technical security measures.
Why This Initiative Matters
The launch of the NYU Cybersecurity Clinic represents an important investment in strengthening community resilience against cyber threats.
Key expected benefits include:
- Free cybersecurity support for organizations with limited resources.
- Improved protection against ransomware, fraud, phishing, and cyber attacks.
- Better preparedness through incident response and recovery planning.
- Practical training opportunities for future cybersecurity professionals.
- Stronger collaboration between universities, government agencies, and community organizations.
- Increased cybersecurity awareness among nonprofits, schools, and community institutions.
- Enhanced protection of sensitive community data.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, initiatives such as the NYU Cybersecurity Clinic demonstrate how universities, philanthropy, and public institutions can collaborate to build stronger digital resilience for organizations serving the public.
Deadline: No application deadline has been announced. This is an institutional news announcement rather than an open application opportunity.
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