Research shows that the gender gap in technology starts at school and carries on through every stage of females' lives. Part of addressing the gender gap involves encouraging younger generations to get involved in technology early on.
Below are local and nation-wide organizations that offer opportunities for you to build and empower the next generation of women in technology and begin to strengthen our talent pipeline.
Learn more about the gender gap in technology »
IDEAL IT-Sponsored Volunteer Opportunities
IDEAL IT Mentoring Program
We are partnering with the Year Up Internship Program at Stanford to offer a mentoring program for the Year Up Interns at Stanford. IDEAL IT members can take an active role in a young person's life to help guide and support them as they start their career in technology.
Learn more about the program »
Other Volunteer Opportunities
The list below is provided as a service only. We do not have direct experience with nor professionally endorse the programs and organizations listed in this section. It is the responsibility of the applicant to do web-based research and speak with program representatives and former participants before applying.
Black Girls Code
Black Girls Code aims to increase the number of women of color in the digital space by empowering girls of color ages 7 to 17 to become innovators in STEM fields, leaders in their communities, and builders of their own futures through exposure to computer science and technology.
Built by Girls
Built By Girls, a company that helps young women explore the possibilities of a career powered by tech, offers a program called WAVE, which matches young women with professionals in tech as part of a 1:1 advisor program. Each pair meets once a month for one hour in person or through video calls for a span of three months. Advisors commit one year to the program, rotating to a new match every three months.
Learn more and sign up to become a mentor »
StreetCode
Would you like to work with communities of color in East Palo Alto? Help students gain the skills and mindset they need to become innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders of Silicon Valley. Join StreetCode to enable the success of the next generation of underrepresented innovators in tech.
The Connectory
By offering the most comprehensive collection of STEAM opportunities and programs, The Connectory is the go-to place for families to discover local STEAM opportunities for the children in their lives and for program providers to find partners with which to collaborate.
Tupu
Tupu is a non-profit initiative to offer free mentorship to women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups in the tech industry.
YWCA of Silicon Valley
YWCA Silicon Valley is dedicated to providing quality STEM and computer science education programs. Through student-centered content, experiences, and role models, we provide access to the development of STEM and computer science skills within and outside of school programs.
Related Information and Resources
- Everything You Need to Know About the Gender Gap in 2020
- Women in the Workplace 2019
- The State of Women in Tech 2019
- The Lack of Women in Tech is More Than a Pipeline Problem
- Women in Tech: Time to Close the Gender Gap
- Gender Equality is Within Our Reach
- How to Be a Role Model for Girls
- Role Models are Key in Gender Diversity - Especially in Tech and Engineering
