Battery Council International (BCI) has finished setting up a charitable foundation to support promising students in energy storage.
The idea of the BCI Foundation was first reported by us in April. It has been formed in recognition of BCI’s 100th anniversary in March and was funded by initial donations of more than $115,000. The aim is to generate assets of up to $500,000, according to BCI’s Chris Pruitt.
The foundation will give $5,000 scholarships for the 2025–26 academic year to individuals studying electrochemistry, science, technology, engineering, mathematics or a related technical discipline that will support energy storage.
At least one recipient will be a woman student. BCI’s Community Scholarship will award $5,000 to an individual who is an employee or direct family member of an employee working for a BCI member.
Separator company Entek put in $10,000 while fellow separator firm Daramic donated $5,000.
Pruitt, CEO of East Penn Manufacturing, told BEST that US tax rules prevent BCI from giving grants to students, whereas the charitable foundation could do that.
