SHOPS Request Form

SHOPS Request Form

Purpose

The SHOPS Fund, provided by The Sherwood Foundation® and administered by the Omaha Public Schools Foundationn(OPSF), supports OPS families in need. The fund aims to: 

1. Address immediate student challenges.
2. Reduce student mobility and academic disruptions.
3. Bridge the opportunity gap for students with limited family resources.

General Guidelines

Principals or designated representatives can use the SHOPS Fund to support students and their families, ensuring students arrive at school prepared to learn and participate in out-of-school experiences.

Eligible Expenses

• Basic living costs (utilities, food, clothing)
• Transportation assistance
• Out-of-school experiences and field trips

Note: Direct housing assistance is no longer provided.

Procedures:

OPSF will manage each school's allocation, ensuring all expenditures align with OPSF practices.

1. Submitting Requests
   1. Complete the request form with supporting documentation (e.g., W-9 form, billing documentation)
   2. Submit by Fridays noon for next week's review
2. Request Review and Payment
   1. OPSF reviews and processes requests weekly.
   2. Approved check payments are mailed and may arrive within 10 business days (up to 15 business days during peak mailing seasons).
3. Application Period
   1. Submit requests from August 15, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

Questions?

Contact Toba Cohen-Dunning, OPSF Executive Director, at toba.cohendunning@ops.org or 402-502-3032. Email is preferred for a faster response.

Please ensure you are prepared with the following required information:

• School Information
• Household Information
• Payee Information
• Description of Need
• Supporting Documentation

Any requests without adequate information and/or supporting documentation will be followed up by our team with questions.