Arizona is on the brink of becoming a major tech hub, with significant investments from industry giants like TSMC and Intel. Despite these developments, the demand for skilled tech workers remains unmet.
The GenTech Foundation, a 501C(3) nonprofit supported by private and corporate funding, is addressing this gap by equipping students with critical STEM skills early, ensuring they are prepared for Arizona’s evolving economy. Residents who contribute to this initiative are directly supporting the development of a skilled workforce that aligns with the state's economic needs.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that STEM career opportunities will grow 10.8% by 2032, more than four times faster than non-STEM occupations. With approximately 55.4 million K-12 students across the nation, the investment in STEM education is crucial.
With questions surrounding future federal education funding, support of the early childhood education community, both in school and out-of-school settings, has emerged as a prime target for boosting STEM education.
In Arizona, STEM education and workforce representation lags, with lower enrollment in upper-level science classes and a smaller percentage of women in STEM fields compared to the national average.
However, local K-12 education and STEM workforce outcomes vary widely across regions of the U.S. From 2019 to 2022, there was a sharp decline in mathematics scores on national tests for U.S. elementary and secondary students, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Additionally, Hispanic, Black and American Indian individuals are underrepresented among bachelor's degree holders in science and engineering fields.
Arizona residents have a unique opportunity to empower students with essential tech skills while benefiting from a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit. The government offers a program for Qualified Charitable Organizations in Arizona that allows individuals to claim up to $470 and married couples filing jointly to claim up to $938 for 2024.
Providing opportunities for all K-12 students to learn industry-standard technologies with expert tech instructors, state-of-the-art tech equipment and curriculum helps prepare students to be tomorrow’s leaders by addressing disparities in STEM education and securing funding and support that will allow schools to provide high-quality technology education.
Donations to nonprofits like GenTech Foundation directly fund real-world STEM education programs in Arizona’s schools, providing resources such as hands-on courses in coding, robotics and cybersecurity. High-tech classroom materials like industry software, circuitry kits and 3D printers are also included.
By participating in this program, Arizona residents can play a pivotal role in transforming education and equipping students with the skills needed for tomorrow’s tech-driven careers.
Tax credits can be claimed even if the donor does not itemize their taxes. This initiative is a call to action for all Arizonans to invest in the future workforce and support the next generation of innovators and leaders.
The success stories from students benefiting from this initiative are inspiring. Students who have participated in foundation programs have gone on to pursue careers in STEM fields, contributing to Arizona’s growing tech economy. These stories highlight the transformative power of education and the impact that a single donation can have on a student's life.
While federal investment in STEM education and workforce development is significant, it can hardly be described as a generational response to an economic and national security crisis. Arizona residents have the power to make a difference by supporting efforts to build a brighter future for the state’s youth and economy.
Editor’s note: Dalton Abbitt is president of Phoenix-based GenTech Foundation, a nonprofit that provides Arizona’s underserved communities access to high-quality, real-world tech education. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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