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JA Announces 2026 Impact Initiative Recipients
The association selected eight recipients for the funding program, which is in its second year.
Jewelers of America has announced the eight recipients of the 2026 Impact Initiative program.
New York—Jewelers of America has announced the recipients of its Impact Initiative program.
The program, in its second year, provides funding for industry nonprofits, companies that provide jewelry-related programming, and trade associations in the United States.
Eight recipients were selected.
They will receive funding for projects that JA said support the industry’s critical need for education, increasing access to the jewelry trade, advancing innovation, and enhancing ethical practices and environmental responsibility.
“Jewelers of America is proud to collaborate with other associations and support the programs that will make our industry stronger,” said JA President and CEO David J. Bonaparte.
“The applicants for this year’s funding showed the grit of our industry and we are proud to increase our level of support to eight organizations. Each program aligns with our strategic plan and we know that together, we will make meaningful impact.”
The 92nd Street Y received funding to expand its Teen Gems program, a free, high-level jewelry-making course for New York City high school students.
The program provides rigorous instruction, mentorship, and financial stipends that remove barriers to participation and encourage consistent engagement.
The Diamond Council of America received funding to grow Second Spark, a workforce initiative it launched earlier this year.
It recruits veterans and returning-to-work parents for credentialed jewelry sales careers.
Los Angeles-based Diamond Club West Coast received funding for its work to improve safety within the LA Jewelry District by strengthening the crime-solving tools available for the LAPD Central Station.
Diamonds Do Good received funding to provide jewelry professionals with “My Diamond Did Good” tools, which help deliver authentic, verified stories of how natural diamonds support communities around the world, the organization said.
The Future Jewelers Academy received funding to expand its programs to provide direct training pathways for high school students and young adults interested in skilled trade careers.
The program, which launched in 2024, is currently focusing on workforce readiness and industry connection with a Summer Learning Pathway at Brooklyn STEAM Center and new programs launching in White Plains, New York, and Hempstead, New York.
The academy aims to ignite passion, cultivate creativity, and unlock career pathways in the industry, while also preserving the traditional crafts of silversmithing, goldsmithing, and jewelry design.
Related stories will be right here …
The program, in its second year, provides funding for industry nonprofits, companies that provide jewelry-related programming, and trade associations in the United States.
Eight recipients were selected.
They will receive funding for projects that JA said support the industry’s critical need for education, increasing access to the jewelry trade, advancing innovation, and enhancing ethical practices and environmental responsibility.
“Jewelers of America is proud to collaborate with other associations and support the programs that will make our industry stronger,” said JA President and CEO David J. Bonaparte.
“The applicants for this year’s funding showed the grit of our industry and we are proud to increase our level of support to eight organizations. Each program aligns with our strategic plan and we know that together, we will make meaningful impact.”
The 92nd Street Y received funding to expand its Teen Gems program, a free, high-level jewelry-making course for New York City high school students.
The program provides rigorous instruction, mentorship, and financial stipends that remove barriers to participation and encourage consistent engagement.
The Diamond Council of America received funding to grow Second Spark, a workforce initiative it launched earlier this year.
It recruits veterans and returning-to-work parents for credentialed jewelry sales careers.
Los Angeles-based Diamond Club West Coast received funding for its work to improve safety within the LA Jewelry District by strengthening the crime-solving tools available for the LAPD Central Station.
Diamonds Do Good received funding to provide jewelry professionals with “My Diamond Did Good” tools, which help deliver authentic, verified stories of how natural diamonds support communities around the world, the organization said.
The Future Jewelers Academy received funding to expand its programs to provide direct training pathways for high school students and young adults interested in skilled trade careers.
The program, which launched in 2024, is currently focusing on workforce readiness and industry connection with a Summer Learning Pathway at Brooklyn STEAM Center and new programs launching in White Plains, New York, and Hempstead, New York.
The academy aims to ignite passion, cultivate creativity, and unlock career pathways in the industry, while also preserving the traditional crafts of silversmithing, goldsmithing, and jewelry design.
The Georgia Jewelers Association, a non-profit for retail jewelers in Georgia, received funding for its efforts to promote bench jeweler careers in Georgia and across the Southeast.
Through hands-on demonstrations, the “Tools in Hand: Community Outreach for Bench Jeweler Employment” program makes tools, gold, and gemstones available for young people at schools and job fairs and introduces them to opportunities in the jewelry industry.
The Jewelers Security Alliance received funding for its efforts to address the increasing number of cyber security threats.
This includes expanding their threat intel and training to help the jewelry industry protect itself against cybercrime and respond and recover when they are a victim.
The Jewelers Vigilance Committee received funding for its comprehensive guide "Everything You Need to Know About Plated, Filled, Vermeil, Electroplated and Alternative Metal Jewelry."
It said the guide will give makers the tools they need to understand these products and explain them to their customers.
The JA Impact Initiative is part of the association’s three-year strategic plan that prioritizes development in key areas that make up the organization’s identity: energize and serve the member community, advance education, and amplify advocacy.
Funds were awarded to organizations or companies based on programs, potential reach, and need.
The Jewelers of America Impact Initiative Committee is comprised of Bonaparte, Coleman Clark of BC Clark, Molly Fallon of JA, Amanda Gizzi of JA, Sue Hopeman of Robbins Brothers, Sheryl Jones of Sheryl Jones Jewelry, and Ulrich Wohn of Victorinox.
For further information, visit JA’s website or contact JA Member Services at (800) 223-0673 or members@jewelers.org.
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