Throughout the last century, women continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields. Although women make up nearly half of the US workforce in its entirety, only 27% of the workers in STEM are women, highlighting a large disparity in gender equality.
The good news, however, is that there are now plenty of resources for Women in STEM to continue progressing towards equal representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. So in this article, we’ll be going over all of the best organizations and resources for women in STEM. So keep reading this list to put yourself on the right path!
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Top Organizations for Women in STEM
All of the following organizations are dedicated to helping women in STEM fields. Although they all focus on specific fields within STEM, these organizations advocate for having more female representation in the fields. Check out each of them to see if they’re able to help you break barriers and get into an exciting career.
Code to Inspire
This organization specifically helps women in Afghanistan get the resources they need to learn how to code. Their focus is on technology education as a social justice tool, allowing Afghan women to fight for economic equality by having access to high-earning career paths.
You can learn more about them and give donations here.
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code is working towards building the world’s largest pipeline of female engineers through activism and supporting programs that both teach girls how to code and how to thrive in a male-dominated field. They have programs for young girls, as well as summer immersion programs for girls in high school, and college programs.
After having taught more than 450,000 girls in their in-person programs, Girls Who Code is on track to help close the gender gap.
Women Who Code
Women Who Code is an organization that fights for equality and inclusion in all its forms, citing themselves as an anti-racist organization. Their goal is to inspire women to excel in technology careers by giving them the tools necessary to develop themselves in the field.
This organization doesn’t only focus on the fight for entry-level jobs, they also cite a high success rate of helping women reach management-level positions in the STEM field.
Girlstart
Girlstart supports women in STEM from the very start, helping young girls gain interest in science and technology. They’re on their way to becoming a national leader in science education programs by providing year-round courses for K-12 girls.
They also aim to fight for socioeconomic equality, as 74% of the girls supported by their program are considered economically disadvantaged.
STEM for Her
STEM for Her promotes resources for women in STEM with the goal of creating excitement and opportunities for girls to enter into STEM careers. They develop their own education programs and work with female leaders in Washington D.C to support underrepresented communities in the area.
Women In Tech Fund
The Women in Tech Fund is dedicated to empowering women in technology and security. They are an independent fund that gives women access to attending technology and security conferences via financial assistance for tickets and travel.
Women & Hi Tech
Women & Hi Tech connects women with professionals in the Indiana STEM community in order to level the playing field. They promote an inclusive science and technology community and have been advocating for change for the last 20 years.
National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
The National Center for Women & Information Technology is an organization that means to help marginalized communities become involved in the advancing technology field. By increasing diversity in computing, they aim to increase meaningful participation of women in the field for the benefit of all.
Society of Women Engineers
The Society of Women Engineers is a seven-decade-old organization that empowers women to reach their potential as engineers and leaders. They have several programs and scholarships that allow women to participate in a positive, supportive community.
Girl Develop It
Girl Develop It creates opportunities for women and non-binary adults to develop and learn software development skills. They provide high-quality, accessible learning opportunities with the goal of creating a more inclusive, diverse community within the field.
Scholarship Opportunities for Women in STEM Fields
With the goal of working towards a more equitable society, there are many scholarship opportunities for women who would like to pursue an education or career in STEM fields. Here are some of the most prestigious awards specifically dedicated to fixing this:
Scholarship America’s Dream Award
Scholarship America’s Dream Award is designed to break down barriers by providing financial assistance to marginalized groups. They offer between $5,000-$15,000 renewable for three years. To apply, students must have completed at least one year of higher education and is open to all U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients.
SMART Scholarship
The SMART Scholarship is a fund that helps women in STEM pursue their degree programs, offering between $25,000-$38,000 per year. As a program within the Department of Defense, potential applicants must be willing to accept employment within the DoD following graduation.
Aysen Tunca Memorial Scholarship
The Aysen Tunca Memorial Scholarship honors an extraordinary Turkish woman who overcame many obstacles in order to complete a degree program at a time where it was against social norms for women to do so. They provide $2,000 (yearly) for female students majoring in a STEM field. Students must apply each year before March 15th to apply.
Virginia Heinlein Memorial Scholarship
The Virginia Heinlein Memorial Scholarship honors the American chemist and engineer and is awarded to female students majoring in Engineering, Math, or Biological or Physical Sciences. The award is $2,500 and applicants must apply typically by April 1st and includes a yearly essay contest in the requirements.
UPS Scholarship for Female Students
The UPS Scholarship for Female Students is through the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and provides up to $4,000 to a first-year student working towards a degree in Industrial Engineering. Applicants must submit by May 1st and provide a transcript, an essay, and three references.
Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship
This scholarship is dedicated to people who identify as a woman and are beginning their degree program in a STEM-related field. Applicants must be currently enrolled and apply by late March, being awarded $7,000.
The Science Ambassador Scholarship
The Science Ambassador Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship for women in a STEM field and is funded by Cards Against Humanity. Applications begin in the fall until December, with the requirements of the application being a three-minute video of yourself explaining a STEM topic you’re passionate about.
Society of Women Engineers
The Society of Women Engineers scholarship provides up to $15,000 to those who identify as a woman and has been supporting women entering college and pursuing graduate programs. Applicants must include a resume, transcript, FAFSA information, and two recommendations.
Women Techmakers Scholars Program
This scholarship program awards up to $10,000 to female students intending to enroll in a program related to computer sciences, technology, and gaming-related fields. Applicants must submit a transcript, resume, reference letter, as well as answer 4 essay questions.
BHW Women in STEM Scholarship
The BHW group is awarding $3,000 to women pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in science, technology, engineering, or math fields. Applications open each January and are due by April 15th. Applicants must submit a short essay to be considered for the award.
Don’t stop searching!
We at Bible College Online might have an extensive list, but it certainly isn’t comprehensive. Keep an eye out for further programs and scholarship opportunities. As the number of women in STEM fields continues to grow, more and more opportunities will arise to continue the fight for equality. So make sure to stay on the lookout for more resources for women in STEM!