JCK Industry Fund Accepting 2022 Applications

Last year’s grants included a new “Diversity & Inclusion” category awarded to the Black in Jewelry Coalition.

Ashley Davis Ashley.Davis@nationaljeweler.com

Norwalk, Conn.—The JCK Industry Fund is now accepting applications.

Founded in 1997, the fund awards grants to projects that work to improve the jewelry industry’s overall health.

To date, the fund has awarded a total of $7 million to organizations and non-profit associations that improve commerce, development, consumer confidence, advance business practices, and work toward diversity and inclusion.

Groups that have a project or initiative that aligns with the fund’s goals of benefitting the industry at large are encouraged to apply.

Last year’s recipients were Diamonds Do Good, Gem Legacy, International Colored Gemstone Association, Jewelers’ Security Alliance, Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Mercury Free Mining, and the Women’s Jewelry Association.

Additionally, De Beers contributed special funding for a Diversity & Inclusion Grant awarded to the Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC).

BIJC President and Co-Founder Annie Doresca said at the time: “This grant helps [BIJC] hit the ground running with many of the initiatives we have planned this year and beyond. We are also glad to see that JCK supports the creation of sustainable advancement initiatives for Black professionals.”

(This year, companies with proposed diversity and inclusion initiatives should apply generally for JCK Industry Fund grants, as there are no specific categories.)

A committee of industry professionals will select grant recipients. Its members are: Sarin Bachmann, RX Jewelry Group; John Green, Lux Bond & Green; Michael Lerche, Goldstar Jewellery, LLC; Eddie LeVian, Le Vian; Sam Sandberg, A. Jaffe; and Yancy Weinrich, RX Global.

“Year after year, the JCK Industry Fund offers support to organizations that generate a significant impact to our industry’s growth and development and uniquely offers funding to a diverse group of projects that cover a variety of sectors of the jewelry industry,” Weinrich said.

“We look forward to seeing the new submissions and helping advance the creative, sustainable, and impactful initiatives from jewelry’s leading organizations in 2022.”

Grant applications may be submitted online. The deadline is Nov. 19.

Winners will be announced in early 2022.