| GIRLSWHOCODE | Nonprofit with a mission to close the tech industry's gender gap |
| BBC | Broadcaster with a mission to inform, educate and entertain (3) |
| TED | ___ Foundation (nonprofit with a history going back to 1984) |
| YMCA | Community nonprofit with a gym and pool for short |
| NIGHTSCHOOL | 2016 novel by Lee Child in which Jack Reacher joins a mission to find a soldier who's cut a deal with a terrorisst: 2 wds. |
| BENGALURU | City that has crossed a milestone of a 1 million-strong tech workforce, recognized as a global powerhouse in the tech talent market. (9) |
| ABZUG | Feminist with the 1984 book "Gender Gap" |
| STEM | Educ. acronym associated with a gender gap |
| POSE | Be in the position to close the shop when at a loose end |
| SALVO | The artillery salute the man with a mission (5) |
| OUTFOR | On a mission to get orders to 4 (3,3) |
| TENONSAW | Newts on a mission to find the cutter (5,3) |
| LEGATION | A mission to change ale to gin! (8) |
| COPA | To protect the tender plants inside, during cold weather you are advised to close the greenhouse vents and ___ (4) |
| COLDLY | How you told the fresh air fiend to close the window? |
| DEATHROW | Barney gets to close the last exit in symbolic arena for The Killers (5,3) |
| HAVETHELASTWORD | Acquire the very latest to close the argument (4,3,4,4) |
| BRINGDOWN | Close of play? What next to close the play? (5,4,3,7) |
| THECURTAIN | Close of play? What next to close the play? (5,4,3,7) |
| CASA | ___ Ruby (D. C. nonprofit with the slogan "Everyone's Home") |
