Submissions Open For The 2027 JCK Industry Fund 

(NORWALK, CT)  – JCK, the jewelry trade’s most important global gathering, is now accepting submissions for the 2027 JCK Industry Fund Grant through November 13, 2026.

For nearly three decades, the JCK Industry Fund has invested in initiatives that strengthen and advance the jewelry industry, awarding more than $8 million in grants to organizations driving meaningful change. Most recently, the JCK Industry Fund Advisory Committee allocated over $330,000 in grants to organizations supporting workforce development, education, industry diversity, consumer confidence, security, legal advocacy, responsible sourcing, and community development in jewelry-producing regions worldwide. As applications open for the 2027 grant cycle, the Advisory Committee remains committed to investing in innovative programs that will create lasting impact and help shape the future of the jewelry industry. 

“One of the most rewarding parts of the JCK Industry Fund is seeing the incredible work being done throughout our industry and knowing that JCK’s support is playing an integral role in helping these organizations accomplish their missions,” says Sarin Bachmann, Senior Vice President, RX Jewelry Portfolio, and Chair of the JCK Industry Fund Committee. “Every application represents an opportunity for JCK’s Industry Fund to support organizations that are making a real difference, whether through education, sustainability, security, workforce development, or other initiatives that benefit the jewelry community. We encourage eligible organizations to share their vision with us and apply for this year’s grant.” 

2026 Grant Recipients 

• BIJC Education Fund, The Future Jewelers Academy – Expand technical training in bench jewelry, gemology and CAD design to prepare youths for a jewelry industry career. Launch a third training site at a school in White Plains, building upon the first two successful pilot schools (Brooklyn and Long Island). Remove barriers to entry and ensure that young talent from all backgrounds can see themselves thrive in the jewelry trade. 
• Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) – Support industry diversity of emerging designers to help build an inclusive pipeline of talent and drive meaningful progress toward a more equitable and sustainable future for jewelry design. 
• Diamond Council of America – Launch the Second Spark Workforce Initiative, providing subsidized certification, career support, and job placement for 100 veterans and returning parents to address the jewelry industry’s workforce shortage. 
• Diamond’s Do Good (DDG) – Amplify consumer engagement through consumer-facing broadcast and digital campaigns, retailer collaborations, and storytelling initiatives, promoting the positive impact of natural diamonds to strengthen industry trust and grow diamond demand. 
• Gem Legacy – Build a water well for sustainable school meal funding and build retaining walls for safe infrastructure at their campus in Tanzania, supporting education, nutrition and vocational training for mining communities. 
• Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) – Modernize the national jewelry crime database, integrate it with the mobile app, and enhance analytics, visualization, and real-time crime prevention capabilities for the industry. 
• Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) – Continue to fund the research and time needed to maintain up-to-date information on the Tariff Tracker that last year’s grant funded for the industry through JVC, providing legal guidance and the latest information on tariffs and trade.  
• The Jewelry Edit Foundation – Created a four-part video series, “Inside the Jewelry Trade Show,” and created a mentoring program to educate emerging designers on navigating trade shows, from preparation to post-show success. 
• Partners In Health – Supports 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 not by extraction, but by dignity, health and long-term opportunity. Enhancing maternal care through workforce training, advanced medical equipment, and expanded patient-centered services.

Eligibility and Application Details 

Not-for-profit businesses and 501(c)3 organizations in the jewelry industry are encouraged to apply for grant funding. Eligible initiatives may focus on areas such as industry development, consumer confidence, ethical business practices & diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Proposals from for-profit businesses aimed at personal business development are not eligible for grant consideration. 

Applications must align with the larger industry-related goals and will be reviewed by a committee of industry leaders, including: Sarin Bachmann, Senior Vice President, RX jewelry portfolio; Lisa Bridge, Industry Expert, Jewelry Retail; John Green, President & CEO, Lux Bond & Green; Michael Lerche, President, Goldstar Jewelry LLC; Eddie LeVian, CEO, Le Vian; and Roger Forman, President, Marathon Company. The committee will evaluate all applications, and it will notify chosen recipients in early 2027. 

To apply for the 2027 JCK Industry Fund grant, visit the Submission Form for more details and to submit your grant application. Submissions must be received by November 13, 2026.

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