Event Cancellation
This year’s Grace Hopper Celebration in Anaheim, a conference for women in computing, has been canceled just two weeks before its start. Brenda Darden Wilkerson, president and CEO of AnitaB.org, the nonprofit that manages the convention, stated that individual registrations and sponsorship commitments came in significantly below expectations, leaving the event short of the funds needed to cover operating costs.
Impact on Attendees and Sponsors
With the event called off, attendees were instructed to cancel their own travel and lodging arrangements. Fees already paid remain unaddressed pending a clearer financial assessment. Sponsors and exhibitors are being handled directly, while AnitaB.org has asked employers with scheduled career-fair interviews to keep those conversations going directly where possible.
The event, previously scheduled for October 27 through 30 at the Anaheim Convention Center, featured a lineup including journalist Kara Swisher, Cloudflare co-founder Michelle Zatlyn, futurist Sinead Bovell, host Cathy Hackl, and co-founder Telle Whitney.
Industry figures expressed surprise at the sudden announcement, with speakers and participants reacting to the abrupt halt of the longstanding gathering.
Financial and Operational Context
Named after Navy rear admiral and computer science pioneer Grace Hopper, the conference typically draws hundreds of participating organizations. Past sponsors have included major financial and technology corporations.
Nonprofit Financial Records
According to annual IRS filings, AnitaB.org reported a net loss of $14.6 million in 2024 on $27.5 million in revenue against $42.1 million in expenses. Contributions and grants dropped significantly from the previous year, while total attendance declined from 29,000 in 2023 to 17,000 in 2024.
The future of the conference remains uncertain 32 years after its founding. AnitaB.org indicated it will contact registrants regarding fees and provide further updates in subsequent weeks.
