The science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industries are the frontrunners for innovation and disruption, but women are still underrepresented in technical roles. As we continue to face talent pipeline problems in STEM, encouraging more women into the field should be a priority for everyone. Fortunately, there are organizations that are working to close this gap by providing mentorship, education, networking opportunities, and career development resources for women in STEM.
Partnering with these organizations is a great way to broaden your talent pool, drive competitiveness, innovation, broader ranges of thought and ideation, as well as higher revenue.
Below are 15 global organizations leading the charge in supporting women’s entry into and advancement in STEM careers.
Women in STEM: 15 Organizations Making a Difference
1. American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Established in 1881, AAUW is one of the first institutions to support women’s education and careers. The association has played a key role in promoting equal pay, career growth, and workplace protections for women. It famously supported scientist Marie Curie in her radium experiments, along with other female scientists and scholars seeking refuge in the U.S. during World War II.
Type: Professional, collegiate, pre-collegiate
Further information: Learn more about AAUW
2. Girls Who Code
With over 500,000 members, Girls Who Code offers immersive programs for students and early-career professionals in computer science, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Their partnership program is a great way to get involved with interactive events or mentorship opportunities to reach early career STEM candidates.
Type: Professional, collegiate, pre-collegiate
Further information: Explore Girls Who Code
3. Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Founded in 1950, SWE is a global network dedicated to supporting women in STEM jobs and engineering through events, competitions, and educational programs. It’s one of the world’s largest organizations offering support to women from high school and college, as well as offering retraining programs, career support, and leadership training.
Type: Professional, collegiate, pre-collegiate
Further information: Learn more about SWE
4. Association for Women in Science (AWIS)
AWIS provides career advancement programs, mentorship, and advocacy initiatives to ensure equitable workplace policies for women in STEM. With 30 local chapters and 8,000 members, AWIS works hard to provide professional, academic, and employment support to women who want to progress in the STEM fields.
Type: Professional, collegiate
Further information: Understand AWIS resources
5. National Girls Collaborative Project
For over 20 years, the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) has supported 20+ million women by connecting a network of 42,000+ organizations dedicated to increasing female participation in STEM. Their mission is to unite organizations across the U.S., providing young women with the resources, networks, and tools they need to build successful STEM careers.
NGCP’s focus on pre-collegiate girls aims to address the lack of encouragement many young women receive in STEM fields from an early age.
Type: Pre-collegiate
Further information: Learn more about NGCP
6. Grace Hopper Celebration – AnitaB.org
The Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing is an event that celebrates the life and work of Grace Hopper (1906-1992), a naval officer and major contributor to the field of computer programming, software development, and the design and implementation of programming languages. The event is hosted by AnitaB.org, and brings together women technologists worldwide to network, learn, and grow their careers.
Type: Professional, collegiate, pre-collegiate
Further information: Join the Grace Hopper Celebration
7. The Scientista Foundation
Founded at Harvard by two sisters, The Scientista Foundation supports and connects women in STEMM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. The foundation is now the largest organization of campus women in STEMM. It offers support to women in STEMM by providing accessible content, communities, and conferences.
Type: Collegiate
Further information: Learn more about Scientista
8. Million Women Mentors
Operating in over 40 states, Million Women Mentors matches mentors with young women pursuing STEM careers. Through national networks and social media, and local events and activities, it pairs young women with female role models to learn from and be inspired by.
Type: Professional, collegiate, pre-collegiate
Further information: Explore Million Women Mentors
9. Girls in Tech
A global nonprofit focused on eliminating the gender gap in tech by providing networking, education, and career development programs. With over 60,000 members across 50+ chapters worldwide, Girls in Tech is a great organization to partner with as it provides a truly global platform for women to learn and develop their careers in the tech fields.
Type: Professional, collegiate, pre-collegiate
Further information: Find Girls in Tech
10. Women in Engineering Proactive Network (WEPAN)
WEPAN is a leading nonprofit for change for women in engineering fields, and has been around since the 1990s. Its critical mission is to provide resources for women engineers, facilitate research-based change strategies and support employers in broadening their talent pools.
Type: Professional, collegiate
Further information: Learn more about WEPAN
11. Women Who Code
Women Who Code is a global nonprofit providing free workshops, events, and networking for women in tech jobs. It started in the U.S but now operates in over 145 countries around the world. It has built a community of over 360,000 technologists and leads over 20,000 community-led events a year.
Type: Professional, collegiate
Further information: Support Women Who Code
12. Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM)
Founded in 1971, AWM promotes gender equity in mathematics and fosters a community for women and girls in the field. It’s one of the oldest organizations supporting women in STEM fields. By focusing on women from high school, through higher education and into their professional careers, AWM is working to break down stereotypes that surround women and math.
Type: Professional, collegiate, pre-collegiate
Further information: Learn more about AWM
13. Ada Developers Academy
In the current workforce, only 15–22% of software engineers are women, and the Ada Developers Academy is working to increase that statistic.
It provides immersive technical and leadership training for women and gender-diverse adults. Its highly-immersive programs combine a range of teaching methods giving people a practical introduction to coding and computer science fundamentals. And as their services are free, they’re a great resource to partner with to develop your existing female talent and gain extra valuable skills in your workforce.
Type: Professional
Further information: Explore Ada Developers Academy
14. Zonta International
Established in 1919, Zonta International empowers women in STEM globally through advocacy, education, and professional development programs. It also offers scholarships with the Amelia Earhart Fellowship. It was established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian, Amelia Earhart. The scholarship is designed to support female Ph.D. students in the aerospace engineering and space sciences fields.
Zonta’s international reach makes it great to partner with if you have multinational offices and locations.
Type: Professional
Further Information: Learn more about Zonta International
15. Girl Scouts (STEM Programming)
You probably didn’t know that the Girl Scouts offers STEM programs and badges that introduce girls to scientific discovery and career pathways in STEM fields.
The Girls Scout’s findings show that doing at least one Girl Scout STEM activity during the troop year resulted in higher levels of STEM interest at:
Type: Pre-collegiate
Further Information: Learn more about Girl Scouts STEM
The Future of Women in STEM Fields
The future of innovation relies on reducing homogeneity in the workforce, especially in terms of “group think”. We need different ideas and perspectives collaborating together to consider more factors and inputs to reach new outcomes. In a traditionally male-dominated field, women have a key role to play in advancing STEM even further.
These organizations provide vital pathways for women to enter, thrive, and lead in STEM fields. Companies that actively partner with these kinds of organizations will find themselves leading innovation on a global scale, with better access to skills, higher revenue, and lower turnover.
If you’re looking for support with attracting and developing your STEM talent, Pierpoint International can help. Learn more about our recruitment solutions or book a call today.
Valeria Stupenengo is the Director of Talent Operations at Pierpoint International, with over 17 years of expertise in the RPO industry. She has successfully led multi-functional teams across the U.S., Latin America, and India, delivering tailored recruitment solutions to clients across diverse sectors and contributing to more than 15,000 global hires. Valeria has also overseen operations with an annual P&L of up to $10 million, driving process innovation through the implementation of AI and predictive analytics.
With a Bachelor’s in Social Communication from the University of Buenos Aires and an Executive Program from the Lubar School of Business, Wisconsin, Valeria combines academic knowledge with extensive international experience. Fluent in Spanish and English, with proficiency in Portuguese, she has led large-scale projects in Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Colombia.
A strong advocate for ESG principles, Valeria is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in hiring and helping organizations align with sustainability goals. Her leadership style is both strategic and empathetic, as she balances her rewarding career with her role as a mother.
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