Created to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn the critical computer science skills needed to unlock their full potential.
In response to the needs of our community, the Community Foundation of Utah (CFU), in partnership with the Silicon Slopes community, has created the Silicon Slopes Computer Science Fund dedicated to building a perpetual funding stream to produce quantifiable, lasting K-12 computer science outcomes for educators and learners across the state. The Silicon Slopes Computer Science Fund enables individuals, corporations, and foundations to contribute donations of any size and pool diverse assets to invest in a collective strategy that benefits students, teachers, and our state in the long-term.
The Need and Opportunity
- Utah currently has 5,073 open computing jobs
- Only 66% of public high schools in Utah teach computer science
- Only 567 AP Computer Science exams were taken by Utah high school students in 2019, out of a total of 45,542 AP exams statewide. Only 22% of those students were female
- Research shows that learning computer science directly correlates with better test scores in math, reading, and science
- 93% of parents want their child to study computer science
- The average salary of a computing occupation in Utah is $85,899
Source: Support K-12 Computer Science Education in Utah
Grantmaking to Date
While there remains a serious gap in computer science learning opportunities in Utah schools, over the past six years significant progress has been made through the persistence, vision and actions of industry leaders, elected officials, educators, academics and nonprofits. The timeline below highlights some of the important milestones around this issue. With the launch of the Silicon Slopes Computer Science Fund, and a significant commitment of State funding, Utah will continue this forward momentum to close the opportunity gap and lead the nation in K-12 computer science learning.
This issue is complex and this progress has required the collaboration of numerous stakeholders with a willingness to coalesce around a shared vision. Now, this shared vision has pooled, coordinated funding to support its realization.
Computer Science Teachers Association
The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) was awarded $200,000 to launch the CSTA Utah Equity Cohort and provide equity-focused professional development to educators across Utah.
College Board
Through a partnership with the College Board, all AP computer science students qualifying for free-or-reduced lunch have their test fees covered by scholarships, reducing AP enrollment barriers and increasing access to college credit.
Playworks Utah
Playworks Utah was awarded $300,000 to lead out and leverage empirically supported work in Utahs’ schools, with an emphasis on social and emotional learning to provide much needed workload relief and digital support resources to students and teachers.
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee was awarded a $10,000 planning grant to further develop programming to engage refugee students in computer science.
Computer Science Alliance
The Computer Science Alliance was awarded a $10,000 grant to provide opportunities for Utah computer science educators to attend the Four Corners Computer Science Convening, focused on providing computer science learning opportunities to students from indigenous communities.
Utah Coalition for Educational Technology
The Utah Coalition for Educational Technology, UCET, received $1,500 to support the Four Corners EdCamp event for educators and community members in Blanding Utah in Nov 2023.
Utah State University
The Utah State University, USU, was awarded $100,000 to support the "Developing a Computing Identity" project in 2024 which consisted of 5 goals to 1. Increase computing identity, 2. Increase computing competence for youth and educators/mentors, 3. Increase access to computing activities for underserved rural and urban youth, 4. Provide innovative CS activities and curriculum that appeal to diverse audiences, and 5. Strengthen the computing pathway through use of near-peer mentors. A progress report can be viewed here.
Salt Lake Education Foundation
The Salt Lake Education Foundation, SLEF was awarded $150,000 to support an E-Textiles initiative for students and professional development among elementary school teachers. A progress report can be viewed here.
Westminster University
Westminster University was awarded $238,211 over 2 years to provide summer time professional development opportunities for Utah elementary educators, with an emphasis on educators based in Title 1 schools. Click to view testimonials and a progress report.
Robin Merger Corporation Inc dba International Society for Technology in Education
Robin Merger Corporation Inc dba International Society for Technology in Education, ISTE, is a multi-year project and we won't have the final awarded amount until their final invoice in 2026. Funding supports professional development and learning opportunities for educators, with an emphasis on educators based in schools serving historically marginalized populations along the Wasatch Front and across rural Utah.
Fund Governance
The Operating Committee is the grantmaking arm of the Silicon Slopes Computer Science Fund. Committee members will meet monthly to determine the grant priorities, prepare Requests for Proposals, and review applications for funding. The Committee is responsible for recommending grant distributions and ensuring the collection and analysis of impact data from funded projects.
Community members:
- Alex Eaton, Community Foundation of Utah
- Nicole Reitz-Larsen, Salt Lake City School District
- Fifi Teklemedhin, Harvard University
- Kristina Yamada, Utah State Board of Education
Fund Founders
The Silicon Slopes Computer Science Fund was established through the leadership and support of:
- Aaron Skonnard
- Ryan Smith
- Josh James
For donations greater than $2,500, please email
