Women in Security and Privacy (WISP)

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.

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

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

• Professional mentorship programs
• Conference scholarship programs
• Community networking events
• Corporate sponsorship programs
• Diversity advocacy initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Women in TechcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 2025Continued 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 DisruptcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 October 2025Ongoing 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)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 October 2025Partnership 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.
• OpenSSLminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 October 2025Partnership 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 USAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2025Long-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 CONcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2025Longstanding 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 InitiativecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2025Partnership 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.
• SquadConcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2025Partnership 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 5WminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 May 2025Partnership 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)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2025Long-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)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 April 2025Ongoing 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 FranciscominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 April 2025Partnership 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 NavigateminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 February 2025Partnership 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 / PentesterLabminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025New 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.
• ForresterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2024Partnership 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 TrustminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2024Awarded 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.
• IdentiverseminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 May 2024Partnership 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.
• OffSecminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership 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 CyberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration 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 InitiativescoreOthersWISP 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.
• OsanominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor 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 BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint 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.
• MAD20minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership announced in 2024 to support WISP's mission and scholarship programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/wisp.women
• Xx.com/wisporg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&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)