NREL recently announced notable success in 2022 with its new philanthropic arm, the NREL Foundation. Turning $5.8 million private dollars into NREL work, there were two especially noteworthy applications of the donations: seed money for the Net Zero World Initiative and the seed funding for the inaugural year of the Student Training in Applied Research (STAR) undergraduate internship program. STAR is a program for students at minority-serving higher ed institutions, designed and launched by NREL’s University Partnerships Program. The director of NREL’s University Partnerships Program, Ellen Morris, is the Nexus co-lead. Dr. Morris cited close relationships with R1 universities, including Colorado School of Mines, as well as their relationships with minority-serving institutions. NREL recently added Howard University to their portfolio of college partners, formalized in 2022.
Read more about the NREL Foundation for philanthropic giving, the investments possible and tools it is providing research and education here – NREL Foundation Creates New Opportunities, Enables Nontraditional Funding Sources To Support Research and Initiatives | News | NREL