• Why do the grant applications need to be signed?
• I’ve never written a grant before. How can I receive help?
• Who is the contact teacher?
• What is the educational focus of the grant?
• Who judges the grants?
• Will there be an extension of the deadline?
• I have a unique question about the Teacher Incentive Grant. Who do I contact?

• In the past we used application numbers. What do we do now?
• What is the grant process?
• I'm inputting my budget but it will not total. Why?
• Why do I have to type the grant application into the computer?
• I can’t get into the system or the screens are not coming up right on my computer? I get errors bringing up certain pages. What do I do?
• My school is not listed on the drop down

Frequently Asked Questions – Grant Related

Why do the applications need to be signed?
This is a legal requirement of the Board of Trustees. By signing you and your principal agree to use the funds and follow the guidelines of the grant.

I’ve never written a grant before. How can I receive help?
- Go to the Gallery on this website and see samples of winning applications.
- Visit other grant websites (see Links).
- Ask previous winning teachers to mentor you.

Who is the contact teacher?
One teacher must take responsibility for being the contact for each project. This teacher will receive correspondence for the team and has the responsibility to coordinate communication between the Foundation and the teacher team.

What is educational focus of the grant?
We are interested in funding projects where hand-on student learning can be demonstrated. For examples, on this website, go to the Gallery.

Who judges the grants?
The judges are a group of current and retired CPS teachers who assist Mr. Oppenheimer. Most specialize in the areas listed in the categories drop down.

Will there be an extension of the deadline?
- No
- All of our work is done by volunteers. When we set a deadline, we organize our volunteers to help us on specific dates. We ask you to respect our deadlines.

I have a unique question about the Teacher Incentive Grant. Who do I contact?
Please contact Technical Support, call or fax 312-943-9472.

Frequently Asked Questions – Technical

In the past we used application numbers. What do we do now?
- We are still using application numbers, but they are now for internal use only. 
- It is now even more important that you keep us current on you e-mail address. 
- Since we will be sending out all notifications by e-mail it is even more important than ever to let us now of any changes in your e-mail address.
- If you change your e-mail address, since it effects your login to the system, you must contact Technical Support to change all your records to the new e-mail address (login and old and new applications).


What is the grant process?
- Read the Guidelines
- Read the Instructions
- Create a grant application for the current year
- Edit and Save the new grant application
- Submit and finalizing the grant application when fully completed
- You may edit or print your submitted grant application(s).
- Before sending 2 (two) hard copies of your grant application to the Oppenheimer Family Foundation, be sure to have your principal and all applying teachers sign the printed application(s).
- Following the deadline, all grant applications are processed and judged by our judges.
- Please note - any extraneous material is thrown away.

I'm inputting my budget but it will not total. Why?
- Input the whole dollar amounts only.
- Do NOT use dollar ($) sign.
- Always round to the closest dollar. Do NOT use cents such as $5.25.

Why do I have to type the application into the computer?
- Your information in the computer forms a database that gives us all of your data and is the basis for all of the processes in the Grant program i.e. the program booklet that lists the winners and their projects. (See Winners for past examples).
- The computer database provides us with a master list and reports throughout our application processing. It also provides an historical record of past grant applications.

I can’t get into the system or the screens are not coming up right on my computer? I get errors bringing up certain pages. What do I do?
For website support questions, contact Technical Support
For grant related questions, please call of fax 312-943-9472.

My school is not listed on the drop down
A July, 2007 CPS list was used to create this list. Please contact Technical Support. Give them the official name of the school, the address, zip code, mail run number, school number, school fax, and principal's name and they will enter it into the database for you. If your school is a small school within a large school, please list as, for example, Bowen Environmental. The listing will be added within 48 hours.