Sounding the Alarm: The Systematic Defunding and Erasure of Women in Tech and Social Impact

In a disheartening yet disturbingly predictable turn of events, another women in tech organization, ChickTech, has been forced to shut its doors after twelve years of dedicated service. The organization's demise is not an isolated incident but part of a growing trend that threatens to dismantle the very foundation of progress we’ve been striving toward for decades. Organizations like ChickTech and others focused on uplifting marginalized communities and creating inclusive spaces are being defunded, forced out of partnerships, and systematically choked off from the resources they need to survive. Yet, despite the increasing collapse of these pillars of support, we are met with virtual silence.

It’s as if we are watching giants fall in slow motion, one by one, in plain sight—and no one seems to care. When a tree falls in the forest, does anyone hear it? The age-old question echoes poignantly here, but we are not in a forest; we are here, right in front of you, being cut down while the world watches. We are sounding the alarm, and what is most shocking is the apathy and disengagement we face in response. Where is the outrage?

The Fall of Women in Tech Organizations: A Grim Trend:

The decline of ChickTech follows the closure of many other notable women-focused tech and social impact organizations over the past few years, from smaller, grassroots groups to larger national players like Women Who Code and Girls in Tech. Whether due to the economic downturn, shifting corporate priorities, or political backlash, the message is clear: Women and gender-diverse people in tech, particularly those pushing for social impact and change, are facing a hostile environment that is actively working against their survival.

I’ve seen the writing on the wall for some time now. Over the past few years, I have repeatedly sounded the alarm as corporate sponsors pulled back their funding, eliminated partnerships, and deprioritized DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives. Companies that once promised millions toward closing the gender gap in tech have quietly shifted their focus. Now, we see waves of layoffs disproportionately affecting DEI roles, a rollback of diversity commitments, and the complete abandonment of promises made to advance underrepresented groups in the industry.

Take for example, a recent report from The Washington Post which highlighted that the DEI industry is facing its toughest period in a decade, with companies scaling back DEI budgets or eliminating departments entirely. These cuts are not just a fiscal decision; they are a declaration about priorities. And it’s not just the organizations that are under attack—it's the very communities they serve.

The Political Backlash and Chilling Effect:

The hostile environment extends beyond funding challenges. We are also witnessing an alarming political trend that directly targets women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ communities, creating a chilling effect on the social impact space. Our rights are systematically being stripped away, our movements are being targeted, and our progress is being threatened.

Just this past weekend, a friend confided that her company had instructed employees not to work with anyone affiliated with LGBTQ+ rights, Human Rights, or Black Lives Matter movements. This exclusionary stance isn’t isolated; it’s indicative of a larger trend where companies, under political or social pressure, are severing ties with those who dare to stand up for human rights and equity. What used to be seen as courageous, forward-thinking, and socially responsible work is now being framed as controversial, politically risky, or simply undesirable.

In 2023, we saw similar backlash and strategic dismantling of diversity initiatives. A McKinsey report emphasized that progress on gender equity in tech is stagnating, if not regressing, with only 12% of women and people of color being promoted into leadership positions. Despite the clear business case for diversity, the numbers speak for themselves: Women and underrepresented groups are systematically blocked from top roles, and when they do rise, their tenures are increasingly short-lived due to a lack of support and resources.

DEI Fatigue or Systematic Erasure?

I have been doing human-centered equity work for over fifteen years—not because “DEI” became a corporate buzzword, but because I saw a world that didn’t reflect the diversity of human experience. I wanted to create change. Yet, somewhere along the way, those of us engaged in this deeply personal and impactful work became pigeonholed into labels that we never asked for. “DEI” has become synonymous with performative policies and half-hearted attempts at inclusivity. Many of us at the frontlines are rejecting the term altogether, pushing instead for frameworks around equity, belonging, sustainability, and impact.

I’ve had to pivot Wonder Women Tech’s pillars away from DEI and focus instead on Culture, Identity, Leadership, Belonging, and Impact, because the corporate world doesn’t want to do the hard work of true transformation. They would rather throw money at an event, set up a booth, and move on until the next cycle, without making a meaningful investment in long-term change. This performative engagement erodes trust and creates a vacuum where true impact should be.

A New Model: Reshaping Our Future:

Where do we go from here? If traditional funding sources—corporate sponsorships and venture capital—are drying up, we must redefine what sustainability and impact look like for women in tech and social impact organizations. We need a new model that doesn’t rely on the very systems that seek to marginalize and tokenize us. Where is our power? And what gets left behind when we are left behind?

I don’t have all the answers, but I know this: Collaboration, solidarity, and collective action are our greatest tools. Over the last year, I have reached out to hundreds of organizations and leaders, seeking partnerships and coalitions, and have been met largely with silence. Why? Because so many of us are fighting for survival in isolation, not realizing that this is exactly what those who want to see us fail are counting on.?

A fragmented community is a powerless one.

It is my greatest hope that it isn’t too late for us to come together and change course. We need a unified strategy that moves beyond reliance on traditional funding and leverages the power of our communities, our networks, and our voices. It’s time to explore models rooted in mutual aid, cooperative economics, and cross-sector alliances that allow us to thrive on our terms, not theirs.

Who Gets Left Behind?

If we allow women in tech and social impact organizations to disappear, we are letting go of more than just nonprofits and advocacy groups. We are losing the future of innovation, of inclusive societies, and of a tech industry that serves humanity. If we don’t heed the call to protect and support these spaces now, the landscape of innovation will look very different in the coming years—stagnant, less diverse, and less imaginative.

Who gets left behind when we are left behind? The very communities and innovations that could have transformed our world for the better.

We are at a tipping point. I pray there are enough people out there willing to stand with us, to listen, and to fight to keep our work alive.

If not, the future we’ve been building may disappear before we even get to see it.

Listen to the Marketplace.org podcast I was recently on talking about Big Tech's pivot away from diversity HERE.