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Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients
This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
The JCK Industry Fund Committee has awarded more than $330,000 in grants to nine different organizations.
Norwalk, Conn.—The JCK Industry Fund committee has announced the recipients of its 2026 grants.
The committee awarded a total of more than $330,000, which will be divided among nine organizations.
The Black in Jewelry Coalition will use its grant to support diversity among emerging jewelry designers to ensure equitable representation.
It will provide funds to cover designer showcases, travel, lodging, marketing, and the operational costs of participating in trade shows.
The BIJC Education Fund will use the funds for The Future Jewelers Academy, which provides hands-on training, mentorship, and career pathways in jewelry design and manufacturing to students.
The Diamond Council of America will put its funds towards launching the Second Spark Workforce Initiative, which provides subsidized certification, career support, and job placement for 100 veterans and returning parents to address the industry’s workforce shortage.
Diamonds Do Good will use its grant to amplify consumer engagement, promote the positive impact of natural diamonds, and strengthen industry trust through broadcast and digital campaigns, retailer collaborations, and storytelling initiatives.
Gem Legacy will put the funds toward building a water well for sustainable school meal funding and retaining walls for safe infrastructure at its campus in Tanzania, which supports education, nutrition, and vocational training for mining communities.
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The committee awarded a total of more than $330,000, which will be divided among nine organizations.
The Black in Jewelry Coalition will use its grant to support diversity among emerging jewelry designers to ensure equitable representation.
It will provide funds to cover designer showcases, travel, lodging, marketing, and the operational costs of participating in trade shows.
The BIJC Education Fund will use the funds for The Future Jewelers Academy, which provides hands-on training, mentorship, and career pathways in jewelry design and manufacturing to students.
The Diamond Council of America will put its funds towards launching the Second Spark Workforce Initiative, which provides subsidized certification, career support, and job placement for 100 veterans and returning parents to address the industry’s workforce shortage.
Diamonds Do Good will use its grant to amplify consumer engagement, promote the positive impact of natural diamonds, and strengthen industry trust through broadcast and digital campaigns, retailer collaborations, and storytelling initiatives.
Gem Legacy will put the funds toward building a water well for sustainable school meal funding and retaining walls for safe infrastructure at its campus in Tanzania, which supports education, nutrition, and vocational training for mining communities.
The Jewelers’ Security Alliance will use its grant to modernize its national jewelry crime database, integrate it with their mobile app, and enhance analytics, visualization, and real-time crime prevention capabilities.
The Jewelers Vigilance Committee will use the funds to continue providing legal guidance on tariffs and trade.
The Jewelry Edit Foundation will put its funds towards creating a four-part video series titled “Inside the Jewelry Trade Show.”
It will also use the funds for its mentoring program that educates emerging designers—with a focus on designers from underrepresented backgrounds—on navigating trade shows, from preparation to post-show success.
Partners In Health will use its grant to support the final stages of the Maternal Center of Excellence in Sierra Leone, a country whose diamonds shaped the global jewelry industry’s past, and whose people now deserve a future defined by dignity, health, and long-term opportunity, it said.
It will enhance maternal care through workforce training, advanced medical equipment, and expanded patient-centered services.
“We’ve seen firsthand how investing in visionary programs transforms lives and drives industry progress,” said Sarin Bachmann, senior vice president of RX Jewelry Portfolio and chair of the JCK Industry Fund Committee.
“This year’s recipients exemplify the spirit of innovation and dedication, expanding access to education, supporting emerging designers, strengthening our industry’s workforce, and uplifting communities around the globe.”
The recipients were evaluated by a committee of industry leaders based on their ability to align with the JCK Industry Fund’s mission, it said, and their capacity to drive sustainable progress in crucial focus areas.
The fund was started in 1997 and has awarded more than $7 million in grants.
For more information and to donate, visit the JCK Industry Fund website.
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