Our Funding Philosophy

At the Productive Living Board (PLB), our funding philosophy is grounded in a commitment to equity, accountability, and long-term impact. We aim to be thoughtful stewards of public funds while championing innovation and collaboration to provide services that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in St. Louis County.

Our approach to funding is driven by the understanding that PLB:

  • Is a trusted partner and a stable funder.
  • Encourages and supports the exploration and creation of services that meet unmet needs.
  • Supports individual choice and opportunities for people to learn, grow, and achieve their personal goals by investing in a variety of organizations and services.
  • Ensures services are broadly available, accessible, and designed to meet diverse needs of people throughout St. Louis County.
  • Prioritizes partnerships with organizations, emerging or well established, that are: committed to quality services, solutions-focused, and able to demonstrate impact.
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Selecting New Projects and Partners

PLB considers many factors when identifying new projects or partners for funding. While most of our investments support long-term partnerships, we also remain open to emerging opportunities for one-time funding that align with our mission and funding philosophy.

We evaluate new opportunities based on the following:

  • Alignment with PLB’s mission and strategic commitments.
  • Documented need and community impact.
  • Organizational capacity and readiness.
  • Opportunities to address service gaps or expand access
Two people in front of an accessible van

If you are interested in learning more about funding opportunities please contact us. We don’t always have opportunities available, but always want to learn more about services available and the needs they’re meeting.