Who We Are
NCWIT is the National Center for Women & Information Technology. We are a coalition of more than 100 prominent corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profits working to increase women's participation in information technology (IT). NCWIT is a 501(c)(3), established in 2004 with startup funding from the National Science Foundation, Avaya, Microsoft, Pfizer, Bank of America, Intel, HP, the Kauffman Foundation, and Qualcomm.
What We Believe
We believe that inspiring more women to choose careers in IT isn't about parity; it's a compelling issue of innovation, competitiveness, and workforce sustainability. In a global economy, gender diversity in IT means a larger and more competitive workforce; in a world dependent on innovation, it means the ability to design technology that is as broad and creative as the people it serves.
Why We Exist
- Girls represented just 15 percent of Advanced Placement computer science (CS) exam-takers in 2006; that’s the lowest female representation of any AP exam.
- In 2007 women earned only 19 percent of all CS degrees. Back in 1984, women earned 37 percent of CS degrees.
- Women hold more than half of all professional occupations in the U.S. but fewer than 26 percent of all computing-related occupations.
- Only 13 percent of Fortune 500 technology companies have women corporate officers.
- A study on U.S. technology patenting reveals that patents created by mixed-gender teams are the most highly cited (an indicator of their innovation and usefulness); yet women were involved in only 9 percent of U.S. tech patents.
(Download more statistics about Women and IT.)
NCWIT was created to identify the reasons why there aren't more women in IT; identify what research and interventions can best attract and retain women to IT; leverage existing, effective efforts; and build a united, national platform for accelerated progress.
How We Work
As a coalition, NCWIT leverages the work of organizations across the country. Through our support for our Alliance members – whose programs include outreach, retention, curriculum reform, research, and leadership, and image programs – NCWIT's work connects the entire pipeline, from K-12 and higher education through industry and academic careers. NCWIT's national infrastructure of Alliances, workshops, research, publications, and evaluation provides our Alliance members with the tools and support to increase girls' and women's participation in their programs and undertake institutional change within their organizations. Member organizations identify and implement best practices for recruiting, retaining, and advancing women, and through NCWIT, work to build accelerated results.
Read more about NCWIT Alliances.
Check out NCWIT’s research.
Peruse NCWIT resources and publications.
Find an NCWIT promising practice.
Attend an NCWIT meeting.
