BCI Foundation

The BCI Foundation advances education in batteries and electrochemistry. Established in 2024 to mark Battery Council International’s 100th anniversary, the Foundation supports the next generation of energy storage professionals and the broader public through three connected efforts: free educational resources, learning events, and scholarships. 

Our Mandate

Batteries and electrochemistry touch nearly every part of modern life, from vehicles to the electric grid, yet the field remains poorly understood outside a small circle of specialists. The BCI Foundation exists to close that gap. We’re building toward this by making battery education accessible at no cost, by supporting learning events in partnership with Battery Council International and other organizations, and by helping talented students build careers in the field. 

Educational Resources

The Foundation will provide no-cost resources for anyone looking to understand battery technology and electrochemistry. This is a new and growing part of our mission, and we’ll share details on specific materials as they become available. 

Learning events

The Foundation supports learning events in partnership with Battery Council International and other partner organizations, connecting students and early-career professionals with the battery industry. 

Scholarships

The Foundation awards two scholarships annually, each up to $5,000: 

The BCI Battery Chemistry and STEM Scholarship supports students pursuing electrochemistry, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or related fields tied to energy storage. It’s offered in partnership with Women in the Global Battery Industry. 

The BCI Community Scholarship supports employees of BCI-member companies and their direct family members. 

Applications close March 31 each year and are administered through the University of the Aftermarket Foundation. Apply at automotivescholarships.com/apply-online, or see full scholarship details at automotivescholarships.com/scholarships/bci-foundation. 

Recent recipients include Gordon Jarrold (Illinois) and Linttavia Taylor (Louisiana) in 2026, and Summer Sapp (Kentucky), Sophia Anderson (Pennsylvania), and Leaf Evergreen (Oregon) in 2025. 

Support the Foundation 

The BCI Foundation launched with more than $115,000 in founding donations from 15 major battery manufacturers and suppliers. It is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and every dollar donated goes directly toward education, events, and scholarships for the next generation of the battery industry. 

Donate at batterycouncil.org/bci_foundation_donations. 

The BCI Foundation was funded by initial donations of more than $115,000 from a group of founding donors committed to education and the energy storage industry.

Any corporate or private donors who donate more than $5,000 to the BCI Foundation during BCI’s centennial celebration year shall be recognized as Founding Donors.  Additional and anonymous donations have also been pledged to support and grow the BCI Foundation.

The BCI Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable entity. Donations to the BCI Foundation are tax deductible.

The application process will be administered in partnership with the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, a group dedicated to providing funding for aftermarket education programs and research. To learn more about the organization, visit uofa-foundation.org.