Women in Security and Privacy (WISP)
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that provides scholarships, mentoring, networking events, and a job board to advance women and underrepresented communities in the security and privacy fields, serving 50,000+ members across 16 countries at no membership cost.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) does
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 by seven co-founders with the mission of advancing women and underrepresented communities in the information security and privacy fields. Headquartered in Sacramento, California (previously fiscally sponsored by SF Bay Area-based Community Initiatives), WISP operates as a membership-based community with no membership fees, reaching 50,000+ members across 16 countries. The organization delivers a portfolio of programs including scholarships for conferences, certifications, and training; a peer-to-peer mentoring program called WISP Tandems; local groups for regional networking; a job board; virtual and in-person events; and the Equal Respect Speakers Bureau, a joint initiative connecting diverse speakers with security and privacy conferences. Leadership comprises an all-volunteer board with transitions executed in 2024, when Rachel Tobac stepped down as Chair after eight years and Alyssa Coley and Irene Mo assumed Chair-Elect and Vice Chair-Elect roles.
WISP's business model is donation-driven, with revenue generated through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, a merchandise e-commerce store (the WISP Swag Store selling branded apparel at $20-$60 price points), and in-kind partnerships with conferences such as Black Hat, DEF CON, RSA Conference, IAPP, and BSides SF. The organization runs a monthly newsletter, podcast hosted by Nicole Dove, and blog to sustain community engagement. WISP's technology footprint is minimal: a Squarespace-hosted website, a Mailchimp distribution list, and a LinkedIn-adjacent social presence on Facebook and Twitter/X. There is no proprietary technology platform, and the organization explicitly functions as a community- and event-led nonprofit rather than a product company. Operational scale is evidenced by 50+ events annually, 800+ scholarships awarded in 2024, a leadership-generated $100K+ in donations and partnerships over 8 years, and concentrated partnerships with major industry conferences where WISP typically secures 10-30 conference passes per event for redistribution to its members.
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Women in Security and Privacy (WISP)
- Legal name
- Women in Security and Privacy
- Website
- https://wisporg.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that provides scholarships, mentoring, networking events, and a job board to advance women and underrepresented communities in the security and privacy fields, serving 50,000+ members across 16 countries at no membership cost.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Development & Community Services for Cybersecurity
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonprofit & Cause Communications (BPAFADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Digital Policy, Data Governance & Cybersecurity Standards Cooperation (BPADANAH)
Keywords
Where Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: WISP accepts individual donations to support scholarships, events, and organizational operations. Donations can be made through their website portal at wisporg.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donation.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors support WISP's mission through financial contributions that fund scholarships, events, and programs for women and underrepresented communities in security and privacy.
- WISP Swag Store: WISP operates an e-commerce store selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, accessories, and kids/baby items to generate revenue while promoting brand awareness. Price points range from $20-$60.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Community Membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WISP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances women and underrepresented communities in security and privacy through a suite of community programs including scholarships for conferences, certifications, and training; peer-to-peer mentoring through WISP Tandems; regional Local Groups; virtual and in-person events; an employment Job Board; and the Equal Respect Speakers Bureau. The organization is volunteer-led, offers free membership, and is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise sales.
Product overview
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advancing women and underrepresented communities in security and privacy. Rather than a traditional product company, WISP operates a suite of community programs including Scholarships for conferences, certifications, and training; Local Groups for regional networking; Events (virtual and in-person); a Job Board; Mentoring through the WISP Tandems program; the Equal Respect Speakers Bureau for conference diversity; plus content programs including a Podcast, Newsletter, and Blog. The organization also operates a Swag Store. All programs aim to foster professional development, networking, and career advancement for its 50,000+ members across 16 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Equal Respect Speakers Bureau: A joint initiative with Equal Respect that seeks to foster diversity for professional conferences in the security and privacy fields by connecting diverse speakers with event organizers.
Products and services
- WISP Scholarships Financial support program providing complimentary conference passes, certification vouchers, and training scholarships to WISP members pursuing careers in security and privacy. Recipients include scholarship award winners for conferences such as Black Hat USA, DEF CON, RSA Conference, BSides, IAPP, and others.
- WISP Mentoring (Tandems) Peer-to-peer mentoring program that pairs security and privacy professionals at different career stages for guidance, career advancement support, and professional development.
- WISP Local Groups Regional networking groups that connect security and privacy professionals in local areas through regular in-person gatherings.
- WISP Events Virtual and in-person events including hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for professional development in security and privacy.
- WISP Job Board Employment platform connecting job seekers with opportunities and employers with qualified candidates in the security and privacy industries.
- Equal Respect Speakers Bureau Joint initiative that registers potential speakers and matches them with conferences seeking diverse representation in security and privacy. Conferences participating in the Equal Respect program prohibit disrespectful behaviors based on gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or ethnicity.
- WISP Podcast Monthly podcast featuring insightful conversations with members of the WISP community about stories in security and privacy.
- WISP Swag Store Online store selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, accessories, and kids/baby items at price points ranging from $20 to $60.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50,000+ community members across 16 countries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Women in Security and Privacy (WISP)
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Women in TechcoreContinued partnership offering three virtual scholarships to the Women in Tech Global Conference 2025. Both organizations share commitment to elevating women and underrepresented communities in security and privacy.
- TechCrunch DisruptcoreOngoing partnership providing General Admission passes exclusively to the WISP community. In 2025, eight passes were offered for the October 2025 conference in San Francisco, supporting professional development and networking opportunities for WISP members.
- CyberRisk Alliance (InfoSec World)corePartnership with CyberRisk Alliance to offer complimentary passes to InfoSec World 2025. WISP provided five passes to members for the conference at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Florida. Also partnered for Identiverse 2024 conference passes.
- OpenSSLminorPartnership offering four complimentary passes to the OpenSSL Conference 2025 in Prague. The conference brought together cryptography experts and aligned with WISP's mission to empower underrepresented professionals in security and privacy.
- Black Hat USAcoreLong-standing partnership providing 15 scholarships for Black Hat USA 2025, one of the world's most respected cybersecurity conferences. WISP has partnered with Black Hat for multiple years to bring women and underrepresented professionals to Las Vegas.
- DEF CONcoreLongstanding partnership with DEF CON donating 30 conference badges for DEF CON 33 to support WISP scholars with full access to the iconic hacker conference in Las Vegas.
- The Diana InitiativecorePartnership with The Diana Initiative (TDI) for Hacker Summer Camp 2025, donating 8 conference passes to WISP's scholarship program. TDI is a diversity-driven conference supporting underrepresented people in Information Security.
- SquadConcorePartnership with SquadCon (powered by BGH Foundation dba BlackGirlsHack) providing 16 passes for Hacker Summer Camp 2025. SquadCon centers voices of women and non-binary individuals in cybersecurity through technical talks, workshops, and inclusive networking.
- Cyber 5WminorPartnership providing 10 scholarships for hands-on cybersecurity training. Five recipients completed C5W Malware Analysis Course and five completed C5W Digital Forensic Analysis Course for career-building skills.
- IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals)coreLong-time partnership offering four IAPP Online Bundles including self-paced training, exam vouchers, and practice exams. Scholarship recipients could choose certifications: CIPT, CIPM, CIPP/US, or CIPP/E. Received nearly 3,000 applicants for four bundles in 2025.
- RSA Conference (RSAC)coreOngoing partnership offering five scholarships to attend RSA Conference 2025 at Moscone Center in San Francisco. WISP also partnered with RSAC for College Day event for recent graduates.
- BSides San FranciscominorPartnership with BSides SF to offer 10 scholarships for the annual BSides SF conference in April 2025. BSides is a grassroots-driven conference known for its welcoming atmosphere and technically rich content.
- Civo NavigateminorPartnership offering 20 free tickets to Civo Navigate North America 2025 in San Francisco. The event featured over 50 talks on Kubernetes, DevOps, AI, ML, Edge Computing, and Security with keynote by Steve Wozniak.
- VX-Underground / PentesterLabminorNew 2025 partnership with VX-Underground providing five scholarships with six months of full PentesterLab access for web hacking and cybersecurity skills. Helps reduce financial barriers for hands-on technical training.
- ForresterminorPartnership offering five in-person scholarships to Security & Risk 2024, Forrester's flagship event for cybersecurity, privacy, and risk professionals. Scholars gained access to 30+ sessions and networking opportunities.
- Women in TrustminorAwarded four scholarships to the Women in Trust Annual Summit in San Francisco including complimentary registration and $600 travel/lodging stipend. Summit focused on security, privacy, risk, and governance.
- IdentiverseminorPartnership with Cyber Risk Alliance to offer passes to Identiverse 2024 at ARIA Resort & Casino, Las Vegas. Scholars learned about digital identity, reusable identity, and privacy/security.
- OffSecminorPartnership awarding 10 fully sponsored training seats including PEN-200 course packages, OSCP exam attempts, and WEB-200, SOC-200, PEN-300, WEB-300, EXP-312 course bundles with lab access.
- Share The Mic In CyberminorCollaboration program mentioned in scholar testimonial as a pivotal experience for Dr. Natalie Maggitt's transition into cybersecurity, expanding confidence, network, and sense of belonging.
- Community InitiativescoreWISP achieved official status as a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives, an SF Bay Area 501(c)(3) organization, providing administrative infrastructure and nonprofit status.
- OsanominorSponsor of the WISP World Birthday Tour, the global celebration marking WISP's decade of building community and expanding access for women in security and privacy.
- Equal Respect Speakers BureaucoreJoint initiative with Equal Respect to foster diversity for professional conferences in security and privacy. Registers potential speakers and matches them with conferences seeking diverse representation. An Equal Respect conference prohibits disrespectful behaviors based on gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or ethnicity.
- MAD20minorPartnership announced in 2024 to support WISP's mission and scholarship programs.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights10 records
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS): WiCyS is the leading nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in cybersecurity. Like WISP, it offers scholarships, mentoring, local chapters, and a flagship annual conference; WISP complements WiCyS by also covering the privacy domain.
- Women's Society of CyberJutsu (WSC): WSC is a membership-based nonprofit providing training, mentoring, and networking for women pursuing cybersecurity careers. It is structurally similar to WISP — volunteer-led, community-driven, with local chapters and educational workshops — making it a tightly comparable peer.
- Black Girls Hack: Black Girls Hack is a nonprofit addressing underrepresentation of Black women in cybersecurity through training, scholarships, and conference partnerships. It is explicitly a WISP partner (powers SquadCon) and operates parallel scholarship and event programming for a related but distinct demographic.
- The Diana Initiative: TDI is a nonprofit diversity-driven security conference operated during Hacker Summer Camp. WISP partners with TDI annually, and TDI pursues the same mission of uplifting underrepresented people in InfoSec via scholarships and conference access.
- Latinas in Cyber: Latinas in Cyber is a nonprofit community advancing Latina professionals in the cybersecurity workforce through networking, mentorship, and scholarships. It mirrors WISP's cause-driven, volunteer-led structure while serving a complementary demographic niche.
- Share The Mic In Cyber: Share The Mic In Cyber is a movement amplifying Black practitioners' voices in cybersecurity through a high-profile annual campaign. WISP documents it as a pivotal partner experience, pursuing an adjacent audience with overlapping programming.
Broad incumbents
- AnitaB.org: AnitaB.org is the largest nonprofit advancing women in computing broadly, running programs like Top Companies for Women Technologists and the Grace Hopper Celebration. It operates at a wider scope than WISP but pursues overlapping causes of representation and advancement across technical professions, including security.
- International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP): IAPP is the largest global membership association for privacy professionals, offering certifications (CIPP, CIPM, CIPT) and training. WISP partners with IAPP for high-demand certification scholarships, making IAPP both a sponsor and a peer serving the privacy professional community.
- (ISC)²: (ISC)² is the largest global nonprofit membership body for information security professionals, administering CISSP and other certifications. While not diversity-focused, it operates parallel member services — credentialing, training, networking — that intersect with WISP's professional-development mission.
- ISACA: ISACA is a global professional association for IT audit, governance, risk, and cybersecurity practitioners offering certifications (CISA, CISM, CRISC). It is structurally analogous to WISP as a member-driven, mission-focused association serving security-adjacent practitioners, though at much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) social profiles
Digital presenceWomen in Security and Privacy (WISP) compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Women in Security and Privacy (WISP)
What does Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) do?
WISP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances women and underrepresented communities in security and privacy through a suite of community programs including scholarships for conferences, certifications, and training; peer-to-peer mentoring through WISP Tandems; regional Local Groups; virtual and in-person events; an employment Job Board; and the Equal Respect Speakers Bureau. The organization is volunteer-led, offers free membership, and is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise sales.
Is Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) a public or private company?
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) founded?
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) based?
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship and WISP Swag Store.
Who are Women in Security and Privacy (WISP)'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS), Women's Society of CyberJutsu (WSC), Black Girls Hack, The Diana Initiative, Latinas in Cyber and Share The Mic In Cyber. Broad incumbents are AnitaB.org, International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), (ISC)² and ISACA.
Does Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Women in Security and Privacy (WISP).
What industry is Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) in?
Women in Security and Privacy (WISP)'s product category is Professional Development & Community Services for Cybersecurity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFADAK, Nonprofit & Cause Communications, with a secondary code of BPADANAH, Digital Policy, Data Governance & Cybersecurity Standards Cooperation. Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.