Code Girls United - AI Academy
Help fund the creation Code Girls United's next venture AI Academy, and invest in our future generation!
What you’re funding
Help fund the creation Code Girls United's next venture AI Academy, and invest in our future generation!
Code Girls United provides free, after school programs that promote career readiness and tools for self-sufficiency. We help rural and Native girls from low-income areas across Montana improve their social mobility by equipping them with the education and resources they need for future success in STEM related fields through our Summer Camps and our After School Coding & Business Program.
Through our program, young girls gain experience in computer science and coding fundamentals, marketing best practices, business development & entrepreneurship, and writing and public speaking skills which supports the development and proficiency in math, reading, and executive function learning. In addition to learning coding and practical business skills, the young girls who enter our program walk away with a new sense of self-confidence in their abilities and an empowerment to take control of their future.
We build skills with:
- Self Confidence: The young girls who enter our program walk away with a new sense of self-confidence in their abilities and an empowerment to take control of their future. Computer science and coding activities have been shown to help build up feelings of autonomy, confidence, creativity, and critical problem solving–in addition to skills building - Computer Science: Computer science and coding activities teach students the importance of logical progressions, loops, and if-then statements, which directly translates to the students’ ability to understand how their own actions can affect others in a positive or negative way. - Math: Girls in our program engage with mathematical concepts such as discrete math, logic, data structures, probability and statistics, and linear algebra. Through our hands-on use of MIT’s App Inventor or Python or Javascript our girls are exposed to topics such as: counting, summation, algebraic structures, predicate logic, first-order, higher-order, functional programming, algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, databases, and much more. - Literacy Skills: Girls in our program engage with mathematical concepts such as discrete math, logic, data structures, probability and statistics, and linear algebra. Through our hands-on use of MIT’s App Inventor our girls are exposed to topics such as: counting, summation, algebraic structures, predicate logic, first-order, higher-order, functional programming, algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, databases, and much more.
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About Code Girls United
Code Girls United starts with something simple and powerful, girls getting free access to coding and business education in rural and tribal Montana. From there, students build apps that respond to real community problems, practice public speaking, and work toward scholarship opportunities. It is the kind of program that gives girls practical skills now and a clearer view of what comes next.
What sets Code Girls United apart is how much it asks girls to do with what they learn. Students are not just coding, they are building, presenting, planning, and competing. The organization also extends its reach through a free AI Academy and a tribal high school pilot, keeping the focus on girls across Montana.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
To empower girls with technology literacy and business skills through engaging programs that build confidence and unlock future career opportunities.
Who they serve
Girls in grades 4 through 12, especially girls in rural and tribal communities in Montana.
Their impact
- 2,333 students
- 296 apps created
- 103 scholarships
- 390 students in the after-school program
- 25 students in the tribal high school coding program
- 15 students in the online learning program
How your donation helps
- Free after-school coding and business classes
- AI Academy online learning content and activities
- Summer camps for younger and older students
- Scholarship prizes for App Challenge teams
- Program expansion in rural and tribal communities across Montana
Programs
Free After School Coding & Business Program
Yearlong, weekly after-school programming for girls in grades 4 through 12, with computer science fundamentals in the first half of the year and team-based app building, business planning, and presentations in the second half.
Tribal High School Coding
A pilot high school program for one reservation school, designed to teach computer science concepts, coding, app making, and business skills with culturally relevant content.
Online Learning Program
An online version of the statewide curriculum with the same weekly structure and learning progression as the in-person program.
AI Academy
A free online learning channel with activities and curriculum covering AI fundamentals, practical use, and introductory project work.
App Challenge
A virtual competition where girls design, code, and present apps that solve community problems and compete for scholarship prizes.
Advanced Program
An advanced model that uses the same structure as the core program but adds Python and JavaScript learning.
Junior Leaders and Leaders Program
A leadership pathway for students connected to the organization’s program growth and student mentorship.
Summer Camps
Summer learning opportunities for younger and older students, including Coding Groovy Unicorns and CyberCat Camps.
Stories
Need help?
Girls in grades 4 through 12 can register for free after-school programming, and students can also participate in online learning, summer camps, or the App Challenge. Questions and enrollment requests can be sent to info@codegirlsunited.org or 406-300-4280.
Events
App Challenge
annualA virtual competition for 4th through 8th grade girl teams, held on the last Saturday in April, where students present apps they designed to solve community problems.
Ways to help
Current needs
- Judges for the App Challenge
- Moderators for the App Challenge
- Sponsors for the App Challenge
- Volunteers for programs and events
Volunteer opportunities
- Afterschool programs
- Summer programs
- Board service
- Board committees
- App Challenge judge
- Fundraising
- Events
- Teach or volunteer in programs
- Alumni participation
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- 2024 Northwest Regional App Challenge winners
- 2025 Congressional App Challenge winners in both Montana districts