Frequently Asked Questions

The first line of code for the Operation Code site was pushed on August 21, 2014. Operation Code formally became a 501(c)3 nonprofit on May 4, 2016.

Operation Code was founded in Portland, Oregon by ex-Army Captain David Molina, who took action and built operationcode.org to petition Congress to expand the New GI Bill to include code schools.

Yes. Operation Code was granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service, functioning as a charity under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, effective 4 May 2016, with retroactive status to 15 June 2015. Donations to the organization are deductible as charitable contributions.

Operation Code, much like software, is built from anywhere with an internet connection, and is not based in one location. While we're headquartered in Portland, the entire organization is decentralized, including the board of directors and the core team. This allows us to more effectively serve the entire military community, whether they're veterans or military spouses, whether they're OCONUS or in-country. We have chapters all over the nation. Use Slack chat and join the closest town to you!

Operation Code serves our nation's finest who've worn the uniform and their families who are interested in coding and software development. Our programs are offered at no cost to the military community, including veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses and families.

First off, you will need access to a solid computer, a good browser (ex. Chrome), and a strong internet connection. It costs nothing to start learning to code and receive software mentorship through Operation Code, you just need a positive attitude, persistence and grit, and a thirst for new knowledge. We have over a dozen channels, from Ruby to JavaScript, iOS to Android, and from Free Code Camp to edX study groups.

Our friends at the New York City-based, The Flatiron School created Opens in new windowLearn.co, an online platform to get introduced to web development and the popular web framework, Ruby on Rails. Request an invite Opens in new windowhere and then join the #learn-dot-co channel in our Slack. Another resource is Opens in new window learnhowtoprogram.com , a resource maintained by Epicodus.

Operation Code is different in that we don't have regular business office hours. The team can usually be found in, our Opens in new windowSlack channel , or on Opens in new windowGitHub , fixing bugs and implementing new features.

In addition to requiring financial support, we also need Opens in new windowvolunteers and interns. The larger our community, the more we can spread the word about our work. Also, remember that every Opens in new windowdonation , no matter how modest, brings us closer to our goals.

We primarily use Opens in new windowTwitter and Opens in new windowFacebook to put out updates and news since it's faster to put out info and respond. Given our chosen craft, we don't do regular emails as often.

If you have a question that isn't listed here on our FAQ or our Opens in new windowblog , write to Opens in new windowstaff@operationcode.org , and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

The fastest way to make a donation is through our secured online form Opens in new windowhere .

It's less administrative work to accept online donations. Get in touch so we can assess your situation and contribution commitment.

When you make a donation to Operation Code online, you will receive an receipt by email.

Our goal is to direct 100 percent of online donations for programs and services, and keep administrative costs low while our annual fundraiser, grants and services fund operations.

As a program-based nonprofit organization, Operation Code welcomes in-kind donations to directly benefit the organization, transitioning military, citizen-soldiers, veterans and their families in learning to code and building software to change the world. Items that are needed, include (but not limited to): frequent flyer miles, Adobe Cloud, used or new MacBook Air's, and grant writers.

Get in touch, and we'll make an announcement in our Slack, tweet and/or write a blog post, and find a veteran to take your spot. Even then, travel and lodging is often a barrier.

Opens in new windowPlease get in touch with us directly, so we can ensure we find a good match.

When you visit Opens in new windowhttps://smile.amazon.com , you continue to have the same shopping experience as the same and most products available on amazon.com but you help Operation Code realize it 's mission. Once you’ve selected "Operation Code" everything else functions the same. Shop for your favorite products or the perfect gift. Most products are eligible on Amazon Smile, if not, you’ll be notified. You can checkout normally as well. No extra cost is passed onto you–Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to Operation Code! After you’ve successfully completed a purchase on AmazonSmile you can share the news with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or via email. This option appears on the confirmation page after your order is complete.

If you would like to become a volunteer, please apply Opens in new windowhere .

Currently, fundraising, community leaders, and grant writers are our current needs.