At Battelle, we believe that what you reap is what you sow, and Battelle sows millions of seeds of education in hopes of reaping a population that is well prepared to innovate and excel in our technology-based world. The source of the seeds – the charitable distributions – comes solely from the revenue Battelle generates from other parts of the corporation, not through a separate endowment. This includes fees earned on competitive research and laboratory management contracts and the performance of technology ventures. When a Battelle-licensed technology or start-up company is sold or a new laboratory management contract is acquired by Battelle anywhere in the world, a portion of the funds from that event add capacity to charitable giving.
In 2001, the sale of a high technology photonics company originally incubated at Battelle generated a substantial return for Battelle and other shareholders. From the proceeds, Battelle gave $10 million to establish Battelle for Kids, a K-12 initiative that promotes improved student achievement by supporting, accelerating and sustaining standards-based reform. Today Battelle for Kids is a self-sustaining, independent operating organization and serves as a national voice and resource for school improvement efforts operating in hundreds of school districts across the country.
