McKinsey and Pivotal Ventures collaborated on this study to examine how tech-company philanthropy and corporate social responsibility investments can improve the gender diversity of the tech pipeline.

Through a survey they found insight on practices that can increase tech gender diversity through philanthropic and CSR investments.

1. Focus on women and girls: It is important for companies to support either girls-only programs or coeducational programs. Maintain a focus on women’s equal representation, with stated goals at the program level to avoid replicating current gender ratios.
2. Solve for those facing the most barriers – underrepresented women and girls of color: Companies can support programs that target specific challenges faced by the sub-segments of women who are facing multiple forms of marginalization.
3. It is never too late; consider multiple on-ramps: According to research, because girls are less likely than boys to have exposure to computing as children, later on-ramps – such as those during higher education – offer high-impact opportunities for women and girls.