At YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix, we’re building just, equitable Arizona communities that embrace and celebrate each person’s inherent value. That’s why YWCA is collaborating with communities who are seeking justice, working in partnership to build a more free, more peaceful world.  Together, we identify systemic racism and gender discrimination – and dismantle it.

As Arizona becomes the next tech hub, we have tremendous opportunity for our STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) professionals to reflect the state’s workforce diversity. Addressing these gender and racial gaps will support Arizona’s economic growth by developing our next generation of STEAM innovators. 

Empowered by Intel and SRP, YWCA is leading the Equity in STEAM Initiative to advance women and people of color across STEAM careers, to improve representation in STEAM statewide.

Qualifying nonprofit organizations, public schools, and charter schools are invited to apply for the Equity in STEAM Initiative to receive funding (up to $2,000!) for their STEAM projects and participate in a learning community to help further close the gender and race gaps across STEAM.

Grant Information

Nonprofits, public schools, and charter schools across Arizona may apply for this funding opportunity and participate in a YWCA learning community. Projects should be focused on enabling the following outcomes: APPLY HERE

  • Exploring the world of STEAM and show how accessible, rewarding, and relevant these fields can be.
  • Introducing culturally relevant STEAM activities.
  • Growing interest in STEAM-related learning pathways and careers.

Interested in empowering this coalition? Contact engage@ywcaaz.org to learn more about how to partner with us to shrink the race and gender gaps in STEAM education and employment.

With this grant initiative, we are asking applicants to create or continue a project or program within their 501(c)3 to connect social equity to STEAM – whatever that looks like for their organization.

  • We are funding up to twenty grants of up to $2,000 each for nonprofit and educational organizations with a budget of $1M of less during your last fiscal year.
  • Grantees will be part of our Equity Leadership Learning series. This series is made of four learning workshops which will center conversations and learnings exploring the intersection of social equity and STEAM.Our classes will be available in a hybrid style as well as recorded format so your organization can continue its social justice journey. At least one dedicated member from your organization is encouraged to fully participate in the entire learning series. Engaging in real-time ensures full involvement in this important work!

Examples of possible uses of funds (this is not an exhaustive or prescriptive list):

  • Bring trainers/speakers/experts to your classroom/organization to support STEAM teaching and learning.
  • Purchase and implement new STEAM learning curriculum materials.
  • Pay for equipment and supplies to implement project-based STEAM learning.
  • Gain access to resources and professional development that can help to deepen students’ understanding of STEAM.
  • Implement student-conducted field studies and projects.

This initiative is geared towards grassroots nonprofits and educators working to inspire underrepresented students to consider STEAM careers.

  • September 26th: Grant applications open
  • November 15th: Grant applications close
  • Early January: Applicants receive notice
  • January 18th: Grant awards announced
  • February: Estimated start for Equity Workshops

Q: Is my organization eligible for a grant?

A: To be eligible for a grant from the Equity in STEAM Initiative, your organization must be a nonprofit organization as determined by the IRS, with a budget of $1M or less during your last fiscal year, a public or charter school, or college within Arizona.

Q: What is the maximum amount my organization could receive?

A: For the Equity in STEAM Initiative, the maximum grant amount is $2,000.

Q: I have submitted my application, now what?

A: After submitting your application, stay tuned on the announcement date. A list of grant recipients will be posted on our website, ywcaaz.org/equityinsteam and an email will be sent to all that applied. The grant contact will receive an email whether they were selected for funding or not. If selected, your organization will receive follow up information within 10 days of the announcement date.

Q: Who should I reach out to with questions about the grant cycle?

A: Please email grants@ywcaaz.org and allow up to 72 hours for a response from the YWCA team.

Q: How long is the application open?

A: The 2024 application is open from September 26 to November 15 at midnight AZ time.

Q: Are existing programs given priority over new concepts that have yet to be implemented?

A: In alignment with our commitment to lasting change, YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix ensures that our grant-making process is inclusive and transparent. At least half of the available grant opportunities will be designated for organizations that have not previously received our funding, allowing us to broaden our impact within the community. While we are committed to supporting a diverse range of organizations, YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix reserves the final decision-making authority to ensure that our resources are directed where they can create the most meaningful progress in our shared fight for justice.

  • Applicants are a 501(c)3 organization or a public or charter school teacher
  • 501(c)3’s have a budget of less than $1M
  • Grants for teachers will be distributed through their district’s foundation
  • Projects will begin anytime between February 1 through September 1

QualifiersPoint System
531
Application shows a clear understanding of YWCA mission and how the grant project alignsProject is aligned to the mission of eliminating racism and empowering women in a strong wayProject is aligned to one piece of YWCA missionNo alignment
Application describes the applicants understanding of social equity as it relates to their classroom or organizationThe social equity understanding is true and clear in the descriptionThere is some equity understandingApplication does not describe social equity
Project description aligns to STEAM and social equityProject contains qualifiers that align STEAM and social equityProject description allowed for some interpretation and the alignment is not clearProject does not align STEAM and social equity
Project description had midpoint and endpoint impact identifiersAll goals for the program are clearly outlined and a path to success is detailedSome goals for the program are clearly outlined and a path to success is detailedGoals were not aligned with project description

Current & Previous Cohorts

AGUILA YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Young women participating in AGUILA ALMA will have the opportunity to explore all facets of the Beauty Industry from conception, development, marketing, purchasing and more. Students will pair up in groups with assigned tasks, perform research, develop a presentation that will be presented to the entire group of both young women and men.  This project will incorporate research with knowledge of beauty products with a focus on ingredients and potential hazards; marketing that includes subliminal messages and potential issues in mental well-being; consumerism and the “business of beauty”.  

arizona Kids Think Too

We specifically target both genders for this program that have an interest in technology, engineering, and or science. The B.O.L.T.S. Program is intentionally designed to  stay up-to-date with 21st century workforce trends and engages youth in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the arts with structured hands-on activities. The program touches on life skills, critical thinking skills, and problem solving skills which make an impact on students. Program participants not only become more interested and engaged in STEAM learning, they develop tangible STEAM skills.

arizona students recycling used technology

Women are underrepresented in the technology field and careers. AZ StRUT’s Techie Women Power Up project seeks to change that. Led by two female instructors/coaches, Techie Women Power Up is a hands-on lab/classroom computer training experience. Women changing or returning to work grow their skills and confidence in technology related career pathways such as entry-level IT support. At the end of the program, all Techie Women completing the Lab earn a refurbished computer to take home.

AZ Cyber Initiative

Cyber is a male-dominated field and although more women are pursuing careers in cyber, AZ Cyber Initiative would like to speed up the shift to a more equitable IT and Cyber workforce. AZ Cyber has in several ways made an effort to create a more inclusive space through hiring practices and program participation. The CyberSpark program will offer the very needed representation and near-peer support for young women in high school who are interested in pursuing cyber or IT-related careers.

AZ(LAND) NONPROFIT

We will work in partnership with K-12th grade teachers in South and west Phoenix to support the implementation of curriculum that centers environmental justice. Our project will create an open-access database of educational resources that can be used by educators and practitioners in South and west Phoenix for capacity building. Secondly, our project will provide training to participating teachers and facilitating partnerships and networking between educators and community organizations to support youth-centric urban design. Thirdly, our work will empower youth in creating a repository of urban designs and narratives of desirable futures and sharing their visions with community partners.

BUTTERFIELD ELEM SCHOOL

Introducing girls to coding and engineering  at a young age will give them equal opportunities to pursue and thrive in STEM careers later on in their lives which helps narrow the gender gap, enhances women’s economic security and ensures a diverse and talented STEM workforce. From 3D CAD modeling to game-based coding, girls will improve knowledge and skills in programming and computer science. Our club will help kids develop their problem-solving skills, increase motivation, and improve their attention to detail and level of focus. With engaging computer activities, your child will nurture the skills they’ll need for a successful STEM future.

CARTWRIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Cartwright recognizes that we have limited District funding to offer overnight excursions, as our enrollment per grade level for our middle school scholars is about 1500 students per grade level. This grant will cover the cost for 35 female Cartwright 8th grade scholars to attend an overnight Phoenix Zoo Camp experience. An overnight field trip, relating to a STEM career of interest, is an impactful and meaningful experience that students in wealthier districts have the opportunity to participate in. After the field trip experience, we would continue to support the cohort of attendees through an invitation to continue their learning and leadership in STEM by mentoring younger scholars at their school site that are also interested in STEM.

COLLEGE BOUND AZ

The RISE Scholars Program project at EVIT, which serves 11 school districts in Arizona, is a high school college access initiative operating from August to May each academic year, designed for low-income high school seniors. Students join RISE in the fall of their senior year, and we facilitate a smooth transition to post-secondary education, often with full tuition funding. A key component of our program involves conducting biweekly workshops throughout the academic year. These workshops guide students through the intricate processes of completing college applications and essays, navigating financial aid applications such as FAFSA, accepting college offers, and successfully matriculating to college within set deadlines.

CULTURAL COALITION, INC

Cultural Coalition’s After School Arts Program serves over 100 youth, ages 6 to 17, whose families are residents at the Rancho del Arte & Del Sol low-income housing complex, and the youth in its surrounding neighborhoods in Mesa, AZ.
The Mariachi STEAM AZ program at our after school arts program provides access to arts and science resources for youth in underserved, marginalized, and low-income communities. It combines sharing the cultural heritage and tradition of mariachi music with S.T.E.A.M. technology activities of engineering and robotics to a predominantly Latiné and BIPOC low-income housing community and its surrounding neighborhoods.

DESERT SOUL MEDIA, INC

This training is designed for youth ages 12 to 18 interested in becoming producers of short-form content for radio broadcast or audio podcasting, such as promos, public service announcements, interviews, and news pieces. This course covers the skills needed to record, edit, mix, and normalize audio pieces for broadcast or audio podcasting and includes an introduction to industry standard equipment, software, and terminology. Additional skills students will learn
are the design process, self-awareness, time management, articulation, information literacy and teamwork.

EDUCATION EMPOWERS INC

Virtual STEAM career exploration programs will be held all year around to enrich learning opportunities for youth, especially, girls, from rural areas and native communities to explore STEAM career opportunities and connect with industry mentors. Example virtual events will include: ‘Meet an engineer’ to meet professionals with diverse backgrounds and learn about STEAM career opportunities in various fields. This program will build next generation pipeline of about 100 STEAM Ambassadors with more than half being girls. 

FUTURE FOR KIDS

Discover Your Future’s free, holistic mentor-driven curriculum gives youth hands-on opportunities to reinforce and/or supplement science concepts they are learning in school. Group mentorship promotes social cohesion, mutual support, and the formation of a group identity, offering a wider range of social-emotional development than individual mentoring. The program held once a week over 26 weeks during the school year. The STEAM segment is enhanced by our STEAM Lab, a mobile unit launched in 2022 that brings additional STEAM activities to the youth participants at Discover Your Future program sites.

FUTURE STARS, INC

The Annual Hands-On STEM Fair, hosted annually in April at the Faye Gray Recreation Center in South Phoenix, is fully planned by students who have completed the eight-month Hands-On Workshop Program. The four-hour event is hosted at Faye Gray and celebrates student accomplishments with 15-20 tables of activities stewarded by the students. Each participant receives a passport with squares that gets marked off at each table they visit. The free Hands-On STEM fair in South Phoenix is the only annual STEM event in the community, engaging more than 1,600 attendees and almost 500 volunteers since 2016.

KYRENE TRADITIONAL ACADEMY

Our project continues to expand what we are doing and have been successful with, but with a clear and laser focus on girls and young women. We will schedule and invite female students to grade specific after school events where they will engage with teachers and community partners for 2 hours, learning and experimenting and designing solutions to complex issues.  We plan for afterschool events in grade bands of K/1, 2/3, 4/5 and 6-8.  Each will have 20-25 girls.  So our project will target 100 girls and young women.

LIGHTS CAMERA DISCOVER

Lights Camera Discover aims to educate and empower youth in entrepreneurship with the use of technology. Our vision is that all youth enrolled in our program become successful entrepreneurs and successfully employed. The entrepreneurial workforce readiness program is designed to enhance youth’s knowledge, ability, and skills to motivate them and turn their dreams into reality. During the program, we engage business leaders and educators to provide academically rigorous work-based learning while promoting soft skills needed for employment and advancement in a professional career.

MAT BEVEL COMPANY

The Universe Within has been developed by Mat Bevel Company in conjunction with the University of Arizona School of Mathematical Sciences and Patagonia Elementary School since 2018. Lessons align with Science, Math, Engineering, Theater Arts, Visual Arts, and English Language Arts state standards. The Universe Within is inspired by our President’s world of Beveldom, a framework developed over 35 years that includes his Surrealistic Pop Science Theater, the Museum Of Kinetic Art and his lifelong creative practices called Available Resource Technology, or A.R.T.

MO-ENERGEE YOUTH FOUNDATION

Mo-Energee has offered Kindergarten and first grade programs and provided STEM workout books.  Those programs used Legos to build projects. There was no distinction between participants; all were eligible and include both boys and girls of all races and ethnicities.  The aim was to get the students interested in the programs early in their education journey.  Additional workshops were offered at the end of each sponsored basketball and volleyball league game.  STEAM workshops are also provided to the Valley Heat Volleyball Club, with participants ranging between 10-18 years of age.

RISING YOUTH THEATRE

Rising Youth Theatre is a youth leadership organization that uses theatre to position young people in advocacy spaces. The diverse young people in our ensemble not only inform the way we operate, they are central to our decision making process and organizational structure.  Young people deserve to see themselves in leadership and decision making spaces. We are committed to diverse, inclusive, reflective representation at every level – on our board, with our staff, in our artistic teams, in our budgeting process and with our youth leaders and collaborators.

SCIENCE VORTEX

This project would allow the Science Vortex’s director to travel to Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Sedona, and Clarkdale to offer five STEAM workshops at each library. The series would be different for each site depending on prior classes offered there and the population. The lessons would be highly engaging, hands-on activities that result in something that participants can take home with them. The Science Vortex has access to Makey-Makeys, Microbits, and Makerspace materials, so the funding would go mostly towards labor costs for quality instruction and marketing.

TONATIERRA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

Tititl is the annual youth gathering of our coalition of families on our ceremonial land out in the city of Maricopa. Usually taking place on President’s Day weekend, Tititl centers youth activities for all ages. Over the course of the weekend, the program will include interdisciplinary approaches to STEAM, including, but not limited to, linguistics, arts, and technology.
By sharing Nahuatl and other indigenous languages and linguistics with students, the relationship and origins of world languages help us realize how interconnected we are in the languages we use today.

VESSELS OF POSSIBILITIES, INC

Our STEAM/STEM Robotics project consists of the procurement of robots, robot activity kits, laptops for youth to code and program the robot missions in preparation for the annual statewide competition. Youth meet every Saturday for 2-3 hours. These sessions provide a safe location for youth to learn STEAM activities, research real world problems and develop innovative solutions and prototypes. We provide leadership skills and youth participate in oral presentations to improve their presenting skills for the competition judges.

There are many ways to get involved with YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix