Twenty organizations. Fifty thousand dollars each. And a very pointed message to the tech industry: equity isn’t a buzzword—it’s a build strategy.
Today, Tech Equity Collective announced the 20 grantees of its 2024 Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund, a $1 million commitment aimed squarely at organizations expanding access, opportunity, and long-term career mobility for Black technical talent. The funding backs groups doing the less-glamorous but absolutely critical work of reskilling, upskilling, and training talent that the tech sector has historically overlooked, underestimated, or shut out entirely.
This isn’t venture capital. There’s no equity to give up, no growth-at-all-costs pressure. Just capital, capacity-building, and community—three things most grassroots workforce organizations desperately need and rarely get at the same time.
Why the Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund exists
The tech industry has spent years talking about representation gaps. The data hasn’t moved nearly as fast as the talk. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black workers remain significantly underrepresented in computer and mathematical occupations, despite strong demand and rising wages across the sector (https://www.bls.gov).
The Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund is built on a simple premise: if you want different outcomes, you have to fund different inputs.
Instead of pouring money exclusively into late-stage startups or short-term hiring initiatives, the Fund focuses upstream—on the organizations preparing Black talent to enter, stay, and grow in technical careers. That includes software engineering, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, GovTech, UX, and emerging digital fields.
It’s a recognition that access alone isn’t enough. Training has to be relevant. Support has to be sustained. And organizations doing this work need real operating capital, not just applause.
What grantees actually receive (and why it matters)
Each organization selected receives a mix of funding and infrastructure support designed to strengthen both programs and leadership teams.
Here’s what the Impact Fund provides:
| Support area | What’s included | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Non-dilutive funding | $50,000 per organization | Allows grantees to scale programs without giving up control or mission |
| Organizational development | Monthly virtual seminars on leadership, fundraising, and growth | Many nonprofits stall not from lack of impact, but lack of capacity |
| Community access | Entry into Tech Equity Collective’s network of peers and industry experts | Collaboration beats isolation, especially in workforce development |
Non-dilutive funding is a big deal here. For mission-driven organizations, especially those led by people of color, access to flexible capital often determines whether a program grows—or quietly disappears.
Meet the 2024 grantees
This year’s cohort spans public institutions, nonprofits, workforce accelerators, and community-based programs across the country. Different models, different regions, same goal: a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
Below is a snapshot of the 2024 Impact Fund grantees and the work they’re leading.
| Organization | Focus area |
|---|---|
| America on Tech | Pathways into tech degrees and careers for underestimated BIPOC students |
| Baddies in Tech | Professional development and networking for women of color in tech |
| Black UX Labs | Leadership pathways for Black UX and tech professionals |
| Blacks United in Leading Technology International | Community, events, and media advancing Black tech equity |
| BRIDGEGOOD | Tech literacy and career access for under-resourced students and job seekers |
| Brooklyn Public Library – LevelUP | Career advancement and wealth-building for Black women, including cybersecurity |
| Byte Back | Digital literacy, advocacy, and tech certification training |
| The C-Better Foundation | Technology access and education for underserved communities |
| Code Super Powers | Employer partnerships and training for Black technical talent |
| Colorwave | Closing social capital gaps in the innovation economy |
| /dev/color | Global career accelerator for Black software engineers and technologists |
| GovTech Academy | Training the next generation of GovTech IT leaders |
| Hack.Diversity | Breaking barriers for Black and Latinx professionals in tech |
| Next Shift Learning, Inc. | Inclusive workforce learning design and content |
| NPower | Digital career pathways for veterans and young adults |
| Per Scholas | Rigorous tech training and employer connections |
| Prairie View A&M University – Computer Science | Education, research, and leadership in computing |
| Resilient Coders | Software engineering training, placement, and support |
| WeCode KC | Project-based learning and future-ready tech pipelines |
| WrightNow Solutions | Training and resources for companies and individuals |
What stands out isn’t just the number of organizations—it’s the ecosystem they collectively represent. From public libraries to historically Black universities to global accelerators, this cohort reflects how broad and interconnected the tech talent pipeline really is.
Workforce equity is economic strategy, not charity
There’s a persistent myth in tech that equity work is “nice to have” when times are good and expendable when budgets tighten. The labor market says otherwise.
The U.S. Department of Labor continues to flag workforce development and digital skills training as core economic priorities, particularly as automation and AI reshape job requirements (https://www.dol.gov). Meanwhile, employers report ongoing difficulty filling technical roles, even during broader hiring slowdowns.
The contradiction is obvious. Talent exists. Opportunity does not distribute evenly.
Programs like those supported by the Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund sit at the intersection of supply and demand—preparing candidates with real skills while helping employers access talent they routinely miss through traditional pipelines.
Beyond training: building durable organizations
Another quiet truth in workforce equity: programs fail when organizations burn out.
Many of the groups doing the most effective community-based tech training operate on thin margins, short-term grants, and overstretched leadership teams. The Impact Fund’s emphasis on organizational development acknowledges that sustainability matters just as much as curriculum.
Leadership training, fundraising strategy, and peer learning aren’t side benefits. They’re the difference between a pilot program and a decade-long institution.
For anyone tracking nonprofit effectiveness or ESG-aligned workforce investment, this model aligns closely with guidance from federal equal opportunity frameworks like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (https://www.eeoc.gov), which consistently emphasizes systemic—not symbolic—approaches to equity.
A signal to the broader tech industry
This announcement isn’t just about celebrating grantees. It’s a signal.
It tells companies, investors, and policymakers that workforce equity efforts are maturing. The conversation is shifting from “how do we diversify hiring?” to “how do we fund the systems that make diverse hiring inevitable?”
The Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund doesn’t claim to solve the problem alone. But $1 million, deployed thoughtfully across 20 organizations, can unlock far more than its face value—especially when paired with community, credibility, and long-term support.
The road ahead
For the 2024 grantees, this funding year will likely mean expanded cohorts, stronger partnerships, deeper curriculum, and more resilient teams. For aspiring Black technical talent, it could mean the difference between a stalled interest in tech and a real, sustained career.
And for the tech industry at large, it’s another reminder that equity work doesn’t start at the offer letter. It starts years earlier—where access, training, and belief intersect.
To learn more about Tech Equity Collective, the Impact Fund, and ways to get involved, visit their official website.
FAQs
1 What is the Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund?
It’s a $1 million fund supporting organizations that expand access to tech careers for Black talent through training, reskilling, and workforce development.
2 How many organizations were selected in 2024?
Twenty organizations received funding and programmatic support.
3 How much funding does each grantee receive?
Each organization receives $50,000 in non-dilutive funding.
4 Is the funding limited to software engineering programs?
No. The grantees span cybersecurity, IT, UX, GovTech, digital literacy, and broader workforce development.
5 Can companies or individuals get involved with Tech Equity Collective?
Yes. Tech Equity Collective offers multiple ways to engage through partnerships, community involvement, and support initiatives.
