Girls in Tech, the nonprofit devoted to "the engagement, education, and empowerment of women in technology" has closed due to lack of funding, leaving behind a blank website. 

If reading this you have a sense of deja vu it is because in April in "Women Who Code Closing For Lack of Funding I reported on a similar organization going under for the self same reason - insufficient financial backing.

Adriana Gascoigne (center) 
Photo: VentureBeat

The news of the closure was shared with members by email in which CEO Adriana Gascoigne wrote:

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Girls in Tech will be closing its doors. This decision was not made lightly, and the sadness and devastation we feel cannot be overstated.

For 17 incredible years, we have offered a welcoming community based on empowerment, support, and inspiration for women in the tech industry. Together, we have made a profound impact, helping women reach for the stars and excel in their careers, while working tirelessly to eliminate the gender gap in tech worldwide.”

Girls In Tech in San Francisco was founded in 2007 by Adriana Gascoigne who had found herself one of only a very few woman at her tech company. During 2008 Girls in Tech launched in both Los Angeles and New York, followed by the first international chapter in London the following year. The most recent stats were 130,000 members across 38 countries.

As well as social events, hackathons and educational initiatives such as bootcamps, the organization advocated for better diversity, equity and inclusion in the tech workforce. Its recent prominent campaign was an initiative to end gender disparity in boardrooms dubbed "Half the Board: 50/50 by 2025," the initiative called upon organizations to commit to gender parity in their boardrooms by 2025. 

In June Gascoigne had already warned that the nonprofit was facing imminent closure if it did not raise $100,000, explaining:

“The past few years have been immensely challenging for everyone, especially nonprofits and companies in the tech sector. Our fundraising efforts have been severely impacted.”

In the follow-up message, breaking the news that the axe had actually fallen, Gascoigne wrote: 

“Though Girls in Tech is closing its doors, the movement we started must and will continue. I encourage each of you to carry on the fight to eliminate the gender gap in tech. Our mission will live on in other forms, driven by the same passion and commitment that have always defined us.” 

Girls in Tech had made an impact and it is a shame to see it go.

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