Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology

What Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology does

Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) is a Vancouver-based non-profit founded in 1981 that runs programs advancing women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across Canada. Its portfolio spans individual-capacity programs (Make Possible mentoring, ms Infinity, Quantum Leaps), networking and employer-facing events (IGNITE, National Career Fair), institutional interventions (Systems Change Workshop), and a workforce measurement product (Diversity Dashboard). The organization operates with 11-50 employees and reaches a national audience across all Canadian provinces and territories, with 4,300+ youth engaged and 2,900+ event participants recorded in 2025.

SCWIST's business model is a hybrid non-profit structure. Revenue is drawn from individual membership fees at multiple tiers, donations, merchandise, and event revenue on the demand side, and from government grants and corporate sponsorships on the supply side. Federal funding sources include WAGE (Women and Gender Equality Canada), NSERC PromoScience, Skills for Success, and Canada Service Corps; corporate sponsors named in 2024 include Dow Canada, GHD Foundation, and Mackenzie Investments. The 2024 SCI Canada Outreach Award and NSERC PromoScience support underscore institutional validation.

The competitive position rests on a 40+ year operating history, a multi-stakeholder ecosystem (members, employers, universities, government), and national distribution. Leadership transitioned in 2024 to co-leaders Tam Pham and Vicki Stronge, following Dr. Melanie Ratnam's term. The organization is a registered Canadian charity, which channels access to grant programs not directly available to for-profit operators and shapes a revenue profile that is grant- and donation-led rather than commercial.

Name

Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology

Legal name

Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology

Website

https://scwist.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SCWIST is a Vancouver-based non-profit founded in 1981 that runs mentorship, networking, and employer programs advancing women and girls in STEM across Canada, funded by government grants, corporate sponsors, and membership fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Equity Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN)

Keywords

• STEM equity programs
• Women mentorship services
• Nonprofit community building
• STEM education outreach
• Career development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscriptions with tiered pricing: Discounted ($25/year for students, low income), Professional ($80/year), Sustaining ($150/year includes donation), and Professional 3-year ($200). Membership provides networking, mentorship access, event discounts, and volunteer opportunities.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: Individual one-time and monthly donations, corporate giving programs, legacy/bequest giving, and securities/mutual fund donations. SCWIST is a registered charity (CRA Reg. No. 119154607RR0001) issuing tax-deductible receipts.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including clothing, accessories, stationery, and membership gifts through the SCWIST Shop. Net proceeds support programs, events, and activities.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from career fairs and networking events, including employer exhibitor fees and sponsorship packages for the National Virtual Career Fair and IGNITE events.
5. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from government agencies and foundations including Government of Canada (Skills for Success, Canada Service Corps), Status of Women Canada/WAGE, NSERC PromoScience, and corporate foundations (Dow Canada, GHD Foundation, Mackenzie Investments).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SCWIST is a registered nonprofit charitable organization that delivers STEM equity programs across Canada, including online mentoring (Make Possible), youth engagement (ms Infinity, Quantum Leaps, STEM Explore), networking events (IGNITE), career fairs, workforce training (Skills for Success), and employer diversity tools (Diversity Dashboard). It is funded primarily through membership fees, donations, government grants, and event revenue.

Product overview

SCWIST offers a portfolio of programs and services advancing equity in STEM for women and gender-diverse people in Canada. Core offerings include Make Possible (online mentoring platform), ms Infinity and Quantum Leaps (youth engagement programs), and STEM Explore Workshops (hands-on activities). The organization hosts IGNITE: STEM Networking Night (national networking series) and the National Career Fair (annual virtual career fair). Additional programs include Skills for Success (workforce training), the Equitable Access to Reading Project (accessible materials), Systems Change Workshop (workplace culture training), and the Diversity Dashboard (workforce assessment tool). These programs are complemented by advocacy resources including the Advocacy Toolkit and STEM Diversity Champions Toolkit. SCWIST is a non-profit organization, not a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Make Possible: Online mentoring platform specializing in skill-sharing and building diverse connections through 360-degree mentoring.
• ms infinity
• IGNITE: STEM Networking Night
• SCWIST National Career Fair
• Quantum Leaps
• STEM Explore
• Equitable Access to Reading Project (EARP)
• Systems Change Workshop
• Immigrating Women in Science (IWIS)
• Wonder Women Networking Evening

Products and services

• Make Possible Online mentoring platform specializing in skill-sharing and building diverse connections through 360-degree mentoring for women in STEM.
• ms Infinity Community-based program for girls and women showcasing that career options in STEM are infinite, including e-mentoring support.
• Quantum Leaps High school student program pairing participants with experienced female STEM mentors to explore diverse career paths, develop skills, and bring innovative STEM projects to life.
• STEM Explore Workshops Fun and interactive workshops featuring science stories, technology demos, and hands-on STEM activities for youth engagement.
• SCWIST National Career Fair Annual virtual career fair connecting diverse STEM professionals with employers across Canada, hosted on PheedLoop platform.
• IGNITE: STEM Networking Night National networking series bringing together STEM professionals at every stage for meaningful conversation, connection, and mentorship through in-person events in cities across Canada.
• Skills for Success Expert-led training program delivering hands-on experience across cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, robotics, skilled trades, and PhD-to-industry pathways, funded by Government of Canada Skills for Success program.
• Equitable Access to Reading Project (EARP) Project dedicated to increasing availability of high-quality alternate format reading materials for individuals with print disabilities, curating 2,500 STEM and STEAM books for Grade K-12 readers.
• Systems Change Workshop Applied learning experience for HR professionals and people leaders in STEM organizations working to strengthen and sustain healthy, inclusive workplace cultures using the Five Foundational Pillars framework.
• Diversity Dashboard Innovative assessment tool designed to enable STEM organizations to measure and understand the diversity of their workforce, aligned with the federal government's 50-30 Challenge.
• Youth Volunteers as STEM Leaders (YVSL) Canada-wide initiative funded by Canada Service Corps inviting youth aged 14-30 to participate in volunteer placements involving community engagement, policy development, networking, and career preparedness in STEM fields.
• Immigrating Women in Science (IWIS) Flagship program providing support and resource information to immigrant women in STEM newly arrived in Canada, focused on credential recognition, employment support, mentorship, and community integration.
• SCWIST Shop Sale of branded merchandise including clothing, accessories, stationery, and membership gifts, with net proceeds supporting programs, events, and activities.
• SCWIST Membership Annual membership with tiered pricing providing networking, mentorship access, event discounts, job board access, and volunteer opportunities for women and gender-diverse people in STEM.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,300+ youth engaged in STEM activities in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered key partner, community partner, national partner, knowledge partner, partner, regional partner, feature partner and educational partner.

• Science Worldkey partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner for Wonder Women Networking Evening (formerly XX Evening), bringing together post-secondary students with women working in STEM for mentorship, networking and inspiration.
• ACCESS (Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society)community partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in the Youth Volunteers as STEM Leaders (YVSL) initiative, bringing Indigenous employment expertise to support youth STEM leadership development.
• Canadian Black Scientists Network (CBSN)national partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner in YVSL initiative, supporting Black youth leadership in STEM.
• Canadian Council of Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW)community partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in YVSL initiative focused on disability employment and workplace inclusion.
• Civic Actioncommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in YVSL initiative for youth civic engagement in STEM.
• First Nations Education Administrators Association (FNEAA)community partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Indigenous youth STEM education and leadership.
• Gender at Workknowledge partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge partner providing expertise on gender equity and organizational change.
• IDEA-STEMknowledge partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner focused on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in STEM.
• IndigeSTEAMcommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Indigenous youth in STEAM fields.
• Jensen GrouppartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in YVSL initiative supporting STEM programming.
• Tech Girls Canada (TGC)national partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner supporting girls in technology and STEM careers.
• Visions of Sciencecommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting youth STEM engagement and science literacy.
• Voices Amplifiedcommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in YVSL initiative for youth voice and leadership.
• Yukon First Nations Education Directorate (YFNED)regional partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner supporting Indigenous youth STEM leadership in Yukon.
• Ricardo PLCfeature partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFeature partner for IGNITE Montreal networking event, supporting inclusive STEM ecosystem in Canada.
• Verdifeature partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFeature partner for IGNITE Montreal networking event.
• Wood Manufacturing Councilfeature partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFeature partner for IGNITE Montreal networking event.
• Anodyne Chemistriesfeature partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFeature partner for IGNITE Montreal networking event.
• Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology (WWEST)knowledge partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner with SCWIST and Make Possible on gender diversity papers and infographics for Diversity 101 resources.
• Douglas Collegeeducational partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with SCWIST on the first Quantum Leaps conference in 1992 during Science and Technology Week, and continued partnership for Quantum Leaps after-school conferences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Visions of Science Network for Learning: Canadian nonprofit delivering STEM youth engagement programs in under-served communities, with which SCWIST partners in YVSL. Directly comparable in mission focus on youth STEM access and equity.
• Association for Women in Science (AWIS): US-based nonprofit founded in 1971 that advocates for women in STEM through mentorship, networking, professional development, and policy advocacy. Closest international counterpart to SCWIST's mission and program model (mentorship, networking, awards).
• Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology (WWEST): Simon Fraser University-based initiative advancing women in STEM, particularly in Western Canada. SCWIST collaborates with WWEST on Diversity 101 resources; directly comparable in scope and program area.
• TechGirls Canada: Canadian nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls in technology and STEM careers. National partner with SCWIST in YVSL; overlapping program scope across youth tech engagement.

Emerging players

• IndigeSTEAM: Canadian nonprofit advancing Indigenous participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. SCWIST partners with IndigeSTEAM in YVSL; aligned mission in STEM equity with a specific demographic focus.
• Canadian Black Scientists Network (CBSN): National organization supporting Black youth and professionals in STEM. National partner with SCWIST in YVSL; aligned mission in STEM equity with a specific demographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Canada: National federation of women's organizations delivering equity programs including STEM and education initiatives. Broader than SCWIST but with overlapping programmatic and advocacy focus.
• Canadian Women's Foundation: Canada's largest public feminist foundation, funding programs across gender equity, economic empowerment, and STEM access. National scope and policy advocacy overlap with SCWIST, though broader than STEM-specific.
• Catalyst: Global nonprofit advancing gender equity in workplaces through research, advisory services, and corporate partnerships. Comparable in employer-facing DEI tools and corporate partnership model.

Regional players

• WISE (Women in Science and Engineering): UK-based campaign and nonprofit established in 1984 to advance women in STEM through advocacy, education programs, and employer engagement. Highly comparable mission and program structure, though focused on the UK rather than Canada.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SCWIST
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scwist
• Instagraminstagram.com/scwist.canada
• Xx.com/SCWIST

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology