Girls in Tech closes its doors after 17 years
A women-in-tech nonprofit, Girls in Tech, is shutting down after 17 years, with its founder citing a collapse in funding in 2023–24 despite a global membership of 130,000. Commenters link the closure to a tougher tech and fundraising climate and shifting corporate priorities around DEI, while also scrutinizing the group’s finances and executive pay. The thread widens into debate over whether gender‑focused initiatives help or harm merit-based hiring, how much progress has truly been made for women in STEM, and whether current gender imbalances reflect bias, personal preference, or broader economic forces.
Reasons for Closure
- Later reporting (linked in thread) says the org is closing due to a funding shortfall in 2023–2024.
- Many assume it relied heavily on donations from tech companies; when hiring and growth slowed after COVID and interest rate hikes, DEI and outreach budgets were cut.
- Some see this as evidence of a broader “economic slowdown” and post‑zero‑interest “belt tightening”; others note big tech profits remain high and tie cuts more to shifting priorities than true hardship.
- There is confusion with Girls Who Code, which commenters say is still well funded and active.
Nonprofit Economics and Executive Compensation
- Tax filings shared in the thread show ~$2M revenue and a CEO salary around $285k (higher in earlier Bay Area years).
- Debate: some say ~15% of revenue going to one person is excessive and evidence of mismanagement; others argue this is normal for a founder‑CEO in US cities and that their leverage over volunteer labor could justify it.
- Disagreement over whether leadership should have cut their own pay or found a sustainability plan earlier.
Tech Labor Market, DEI, and Corporate Incentives
- Several connect the closure to a broader tech correction: layoffs, end of “free money,” and reduced enthusiasm for hiring large numbers of junior or bootcamp grads.
- One camp argues initiatives like this mainly serve to increase engineer supply and hold wages down; critics call that overly cynical and say most staff are genuine even if corporate donors act strategically.
- Some see a political backlash against DEI making such orgs riskier for companies to support; others say this is overstated or limited to certain regions and media narratives.
Impact and “Mission Accomplished” vs. “Work Unfinished”
- Many praise the org for surviving 17 years and hosting thousands of events, noting most startups and nonprofits die far sooner.
- A minority view the shutdown as “mission accomplished” in a more inclusive industry; others strongly disagree, saying women are still underrepresented in engineering, overrepresented in non‑technical roles, and face pay, promotion, and culture gaps.
Broader Gender and STEM Debates
- Long subthreads debate why women remain a minority in tech:
- Explanations range from discrimination, early socialization, and workplace hostility to differing preferences in wealthy countries and economic necessity in poorer ones.
- Nordic “gender‑equality paradox” data, stay‑at‑home parenting, and affirmative action are all contested, with no consensus.
- Some worry that cutting such orgs now could slow or reverse fragile gains in representation.