The Open Door Education Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of trained Americans entering the information technology (IT) industry ... we feel this is necessary to keep the United States the world leader in IT.

Our goal is to educate and encourage all students, their parents and counselors, and people making career changes to consider entering the information technology industry. The Open Door also awards scholarships in the communities where our donors live and do business.

The Open Door was originally sponsored in 1998 by the National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses (NACCB), a trade organization composed of computer consulting firms. After some twenty years of continual growth and success, it seemed a natural and logical step to create a not-for-profit committed to giving something back to the industry that had fostered so many success stories.

NACCB decided to create a foundation to provide scholarships to deserving students needing financial assistance to pursue their education in information technology. In this way, IT professionals and companies could 'give back' to their community and to the industry that had treated them so well.

As the Open Door Board grew, the original idea grew as well, expanding into a powerful three-pronged program:

• To provide scholarships in the communities where donors live and work;
• To educate and persuade young people and returning students to pursue careers in technology;
• To encourage local technical employers and educators to work together in order to improve the quality and quantity of the overall educational experience in IT.

The first program, our scholarship program, is well under way. The second program is far more global in nature; the biggest problem facing the IT industry is the tremendous shortage of qualified people. Today, less than 5% of all graduating seniors have a degree directly related to IT. This web site is an important part of Open Door's program to reach out to students of all ages, to foster awareness of IT careers, and to contribute to a larger and better qualified IT workforce in America.