Donations may top more than $70 million.

My first year of college, my friend Christian and I had an idea for a tech platform that would make civic education more engaging and fun for students across the U.S. We needed to raise about $10,000.

We're seeing a shift occur within the startup culture around us. Early stage businesses are working to not only make waves with innovation, but also to conduct their business in a socially responsible way.

For 15 years, my organization has invested in the capacity of young leaders around the globe to question the status quo, develop innovative solutions and inspire others -- most notably through our YouthActionNet initiative.

Although the field of engineering offers women careers that are engaging and interesting, this career has not been a historically popular choice. Understanding why so few women consider a career in engineering is complex and hard to pin down.