Grants for Women in IT

In 1929, Virginia Woolf wrote in her groundbreaking book A Room of One’s Own that female writers required financial independence to dedicate themselves to their craft and succeed in their work. The same goes for women in technology. If they want to succeed, they need money to pursue training, obtain advanced degrees or strike out on their own.

To that end, the Anita Borg Institute (ABI) is offering grants to women so that they can advance in their careers or help other women do so. The grants, awarded in the range of $500 to $1,000 (U.S.), can be put toward education, job transitions and/or projects that help girls and women get into technology.

What’s the catch? You’ve got to be a member of the Systers online community to apply for the grant. If you’re not a member, joining is easy, and membership has it privileges. The Systers community has been going strong since it was founded in 1987 to promote the interests of women working in the technology field. Today the community supports 2800 members in 53 countries.   

Applications for the grants are being accepted through the Systers website now through September 30, 2007. The first grants will be awarded at ABI’s Grace Hopper Celebration Of Women in Computing Conference, which is being held in Orlando, Fla. from October 17 – 20, 2007.