Project CU, Inc.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
A job provides self-worth, pride and dignity to an individual. Yet, there are very few places where an individual who has an intellectual and developmental disability, one to such a degree that they are unable to work in supported competitive or competitive employment, can work. At Project, Inc. we provide employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in an environment fostering positive social interaction and friendships. We gently guide the workers down the learning curve for each job in house, as our workers are slow to learn and quick to forget. There is no pill, hearing aid, wheelchair,.. that will alleviate what prevents our individuals from working in competitive or supported competitive employment. Our workshop is the accommodation for these individuals, who find meaning in their lives by working at Project, Inc.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
On the job training
Project, Inc. provides job skill training for employment within the workshop in the areas of hand assembly, packaging, quality inspection and fulfillment.
Where we work
External reviews

Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
At Project, Inc. our goal is to provide long-term safe and secure employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We strive to stretch the individuals who are working here to their highest level of functionality, without frustrating the individuals. Through the dignity experienced with having a job, we have been transforming lives for 59 years. We give people whom society would rather sweep under the rug as worthless feelings of hope and purpose for their lives. We have 92 workers, many of whom have been working for Project, Inc. for 20 years. We have a waitlist of over 100 workers, and our goal is to offer every individual on that list a chance to work, if they so desire. We make a material impact on the lives of those whom we serve here, and we make a difference in the lives of the individuals' families, as they are given a choice about whether to enter the workforce.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our social mission is to provide long-term jobs in a nurturing environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Because those who work at Project, Inc. do not have a uniform degree of intellectual disability, we strive to maintain jobs in house that have varying degrees of complexity. Further, we work hard to keep our accounts diversified across many economic sectors. This has entailed letting the community know we have an FDA/USDA Certified Clean Room that can be used for the food industry or pharmaceutical packaging. Our 59 year history of fast turn times and hand assembly for the printing industry have given us a long and solid reputation. We continue to work on strengthening the relationships we have in this industry. The social mission strategy is to create awareness in the community for who we are, what we do, and why people should care. Our Business Manager and Director of Development both reach out to the local communities to create this awareness. Our Director of Development strives to raise necessary funds to make infrastructure upgrades and to purchase equipment. These initiatives will allow us to bid on more jobs and to sustain and further our social mission of providing safe long-term employment to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities for the next 50 years!
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Project, Inc. has a 59 year history making a material impact on the lives of the individuals whom we serve, their families, the communities where these individuals live, and the greater St. Louis business community. The staff and board of Project, Inc. try to position the organization so that there is a variety of work that our workers can do either with their ability to turn-key any job (large or small), or to handle longer run jobs. Our supervisors play an indispensable role in training and supporting the workers so that the jobs can be accomplished with dignity and pride. They have an innate sense of the capabilities for each worker, as well as knowledge of which individuals work best together.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The organization is 59 years old, and we are only in the beginning stages of creating a development program aimed at fundraising, awareness and building a donor base. In trying to position ourselves for continued success and growth over the next 50 years it is clear that some infrastructure and equipment purchases need to be made. We hope to continue creating awareness for who we are, what we can do, and why someone may want to invest in our social mission. We are grateful to have secured funds from The Pershing Charitable Trust for a forklift, from The Dula Foundation for a walk-in refrigerator, from Sunnen Foundation for ink jet printers, from Gertrude and William A. Bernoudy Foundation for rolling lockable collection bins for our secure document venture, and from Service Bureau Foundation for a new lawn tractor. We installed a new roof, and our fundraising efforts have been aimed at replacing funds allocated to this large project. In order to go forward for the next 50 years we need a variety of jobs, steering away from a single industry model, so that we can have a healthy business model and sustain our social mission. We would also like to secure unrestricted funds for ongoing operations. The Emerson Charitable Trust, Pettus Foundation, Gertrude and William A. Bernoudy Foundation, and Dula-Kobusch Charitable Trust have helped us with operating expense grants. After 59 years our long reputation proceeds us, and with awareness and fundraising we will be poised for achieving diversity in accounts and sustained health for our social mission.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Project CU, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 01/12/2023
Tom Morrissey
Challenge Unlimited, Inc.
Erica Orrison
Pridestaff
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data