We describe a technique to evaluate projector functions to be used, e.g., in self-interaction corrected versions of the Kohn-Sham equation (or in the LSDA+U method). The projector functions reproduce by construction the expectation values of spin and orbital moments (or any other property one is interested in) for the atomic many-body state. We therefore refer to these projector functions as many-body projector orbitals (MBPO). We describe how, once these projector states have been calculated, one can use them in any electronic structure method for a solid or molecule, to calculate ground-state properties of materials with strongly correlated states. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.