About Us

Women in Technology Education Foundation: Empowering Girls and Women To Change the World
A digital divide still exists between girls and boys. Unless girls are encouraged at a very early age and on an ongoing basis to learn and enjoy mathematics, the sciences, engineering, and technology, they lag behind boys in pursuing these subjects. Consider the following statistics from the 2009 National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Scorecard:

• In 2009, 56% of the students taking AP tests were girls, yet only 18% of the students taking the computer science exam were female.
• Between 2000 and 2008, there was a 79% decline in the number of incoming undergraduate women interested in majoring in computer science.
• In 2009, 57% of students graduating from college were women, yet only 18% of the students graduating with a computer science degree were female.

As a result, the percentage of professional women in the computer science workforce has been declining over the past decade from a high of almost 30% in 2000 to less than 25% in 2009. This is an issue that has growing negative implications for our future.
 
Women in Technology Education Foundation (WIT Education Foundation) is a nonprofit organization that empowers women and girls to change the world by providing scholarships and financial support to programs that foster interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related careers.  It was founded in 2003 with seed grants from Washington D.C. technology entrepreneurs Mario Marino (Legent) and John Sidgmore (UUNET/MCI) as the philanthropic arm of Women in Technology (WIT).
 
WIT Education Foundation is committed to seeking out and supporting area school-sponsored, community and WIT programs that use education to create awareness and excitement in the pursuit of careers in these critical disciplines.  Through WIT Education Foundation’s efforts, thousands of girls and young women in the metropolitan DC area have learned about the exciting opportunities available to them in STEM careers.
WIT Education Foundations' major fundraising efforts are supported by individual donations, corporate and private philanthropic grants, and special programs. Thanks to our supporters, WIT Education Foundation is ensuring that the current and future generations of girls and women will have an opportunity to change the world.