The foundation provides each mentor and fellow a number of substitute days in order to plan, visit other schools and attend conferences. In addition, each person receives a grant of $1,000 to pay for conference expenses and to purchase professional books or classroom materials. Stipends of $500 per year are paid to participants for attending activities such as inquiry meetings conducted outside of work time. The foundation pays the school district for the cost of salaries and benefits for mentor teachers who are then released full-time from teaching for two years to work with the Cotsen fellows.