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Scholarships
WJA Foundation is thrilled to announce a transformative support for women in the jewelry industry through increased access to resources, mentorship, and career opportunities.
The Membership Angel Fund, established by the WJA Foundation, is designed to support women in the jewelry industry by providing access to valuable professional resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. This initiative encourages career growth and industry engagement by removing financial barriers to WJA membership.
Scholarship Details
The Membership Angel Fund will award:
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5 Professional Memberships (for individuals in the U.S.)
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5 Global Memberships (for individuals outside the U.S.)
Recipients will receive a one-year membership to the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA).
Apply HERE between March 1 – April 30, 2025.
APPLICATION PERIOD: MARCH 1 - APRIL 30, 2025
WJA Foundation is excited to announce a new partnership with Stuller, Inc., launching a new Bench Jeweler Scholarship. This scholarship, valued at $7,500, is designed to foster growth in the bench jeweler career path by providing crucial hands-on training to aspiring women professionals.
The scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to attend a selection of workshops and training programs at Stuller’s headquarters in Lafayette, LA. The recipient will choose from a range of specialized courses, including Bench Jewelers Workshop, Laser Welding and Soldering, Basic Stone Setting, Intermediate Stone Setting, Advanced 1 Stone Setting, and Advanced 2 Stone Setting.
In addition to the educational experience, WJA Foundation will cover up to $1,500 of airfare costs, ensuring accessibility to this invaluable opportunity.
Apply HERE between March 1 – April 30, 2025.
APPLICATION PERIOD: MARCH 1 - APRIL 30, 2025
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The WJA Foundation established the Cindy Edelstein Jewelry Design Scholarship in memory of one of the
jewelry industry’s most beloved and respected members who died suddenly in 2016 of cardiac arrest. In
memory of Edelstein's unwavering commitment to WJA and the careers of women, only women who are
current WJA members are eligible to apply for this $5,000 scholarship. The recipient can pursue either
design or business courses.
In Loving Memory
editor that gave her the opportunity to fall in love with jewelry designers and their work. She founded
Jeweler's Resource Bureau (JRB) in 1991 with one goal -- to support the growth of designer fine jewelry
as a retail category, an art form, and a community. Over the years she and her husband, Frank Stankus,
who joined JRB in 1996, built a menu of marketing and publishing services that offers expert advice,
custom publications, and the kind of targeted marketing tools that designer entrepreneurs need to run
their businesses most effectively. Stankus continues to operate JRB today.
In 2000, Edelstein and JRB launched the first American trade show on the craft show circuit to include
international studio jewelers, called globalDESIGN. This event is held annually at the American Craft
Council's American Craft Show in Baltimore each February. Stankus continues to manage globalDESIGN
for JRB.
In 1990, Edelstein received the WJA Award for Editorial Excellence. In 1995, she was awarded the
prestigious Benne Award by the American Jewelry Design Council. In 1996, she was the winner of the
Contemporary Design Group's award as Best Designer Advocate. And in 2001 she was recognized again
by WJA with an Excellence in Marketing award.
Eligibility
-Open to female or female-identifying applicants.-Must be an active WJA member in current standing.
-The recipient may pursue either design or business courses, provided they are focused on improving
her artistry and/or her designer jewelry business.
Apply HERE between March 1 – April 30, 2025.
APPLICATION PERIOD: MARCH 1 - APRIL 30, 2025
The WJA Foundation's Hedda Schupak-Baum Memorial Media and Communications Scholarship will be awarded to individual(s) working in the fine jewelry industry. Established in the longtime editor’s honor in 2024, the scholarship supports media professionals -including on-staff magazine and newspaper editors, freelance writers and editors, podcast hosts, and social media content creators - looking to enhance their careers with continuing education. The scholarship recipient must be a media professional with at least one year of experience who reports or communicates about fine jewelry/watch industry news, trends, and/or company/brand/designer profiles.
Training Program / Coursework Criteria
This scholarship, valued at $7,500, is designed to support individuals pursuing coursework relevant to their professional development within the fine jewelry industry. Coursework must be completed within one year and may be undertaken through online or in-person programs, subject to approval by the scholarship jury. Examples of eligible programs include but are not limited to the NYU Modern Journalism Course, SCAD BFA or MFA in Writing, BS in Fashion Media | LIM College, or any college-level coursework related to the media field within the jewelry industry.
Eligibility:
- Employed full-time in the fine jewelry industry, specifically in roles related to media production and dissemination (e.g., magazine and newspaper editors, freelance writers and editors, podcast hosts, and social media content creators).
- Must have at least one year of experience reporting or communicating about fine jewelry and watch industry news, trends, and/or profiles of companies, brands, or designers.
- Open to female or female-identifying applicants.
- Applicants must be in current standing as a member of WJA or join WJA upon receipt of the scholarship.
For questions please send an email to info@womensjewelryassociation.org.
Apply HERE between March 1 – April 30, 2025.
APPLICATION PERIOD: MARCH 1 - APRIL 30, 2025
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The WJA Foundation is proud to partner with the Fortunoff family on a scholarship for women in retail in
honor of their late mother, Helene Fortunoff. In memory of Helene’s unwavering commitment to pave
the way for women to grow within the industry, this $7,500 scholarship will be awarded annually to a
retail professional who wishes to develop their management skills to progress their career in a retail
environment.
In Loving Memory
Helene Fortunoff was a trailblazing woman in the jewelry industry, and one of the Women’s JewelryAssociation’s founding members back in 1983. She served as President from 1992 – 1995, led the
organization’s fashion group for 15 years, and was recognized with WJA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Helene recognized the importance of a community for women in the industry, as there were few seats
at the table four decades ago for women in the jewelry business. She was named chairman of the
Gemological Institute of America’s board of governors. The United States Carat Club, a private and
prestigious De Beers group, invited Helene to be the first woman member. In recognition of her long
association with Italian jewelry manufacturers, Helene received the honorary appointment as Knight of
the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy in 1997. In 2001, Helene received the American Gem Society’s
Triple Zero Award, and in 2006, received Jewelers of America’s Gem Award for lifetime achievement,
which was presented to her by Lauren Bacall, a longtime spokesperson for the Fortunoff brand.
Helene was also an outstanding mentor and believed in the value of supporting her team and
developing talent. She carried jewelry by women designers and provided flexible schedules to the
employees who were mothers and caregivers.
Eligibility
Training Program / Coursework CriteriaThis scholarship is valued for up to $7,500. Coursework must be taken within one year. The program
may be online or in-person and is subject to approval by the scholarship jury. Some examples of
programs include the Center for Creative Leadership, Dale Carnegie Institute - The Women’s Leadership
Experience, NYU Executive Education - Leadership Training for High Potentials, LIM Master of
Professional Studies in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management, Drexel MS in Retail and
Merchandising (online), or any college-level coursework in management, marketing, or merchandising.
Applicant Criteria
-Must be currently employed full-time in a retail jewelry store defined as either an independent,
regional, national, or global chain.
-Must have 3-5 years retail sales/ management experience (sales professional, assistant manager, or
store manager) and/or broader support roles which include marketing, merchandising, inventory,
finance, etc. in a retail organization
-Open to female or female-identifying applicants.
-Must be a WJA member in current standing or join WJA upon receipt of scholarship.
Apply HERE between March 1 – April 30, 2025.
APPLICATION PERIOD: MARCH 1 - APRIL 30, 2025
The WJA-Gabriel Love Foundation Student Scholarship in partnership with Gabriel & Co. is a $5,000 scholarship awarded to a deserving female student enrolled in non-design courses through a jewelry, metalsmithing or watch program at an accredited college, university, or training school (between August 1, 2024 and July 31, 2025). This scholarship has been established to help provide funding for students to achieve professional growth within the jewelry and watch industries and in their communities at large. Consideration will be given to students who can clearly articulate a desire to participate in charitable efforts in the future or how they will use their career in jewelry/watches to improve communities.
Applications for this scholarship are open to members and non-members of the Women's Jewelry Association. Applicants must complete the online application, which is part of the student scholarship application and selection process.
If you have questions about this scholarship, please send an email to info@womensjewelryassociation.org.
Apply HERE between March 1 – April 30, 2025.
APPLICATION PERIOD: MARCH 1 - APRIL 30, 2025
(Gabriel Love is part of the student scholarship application & selection process).
About Gabriel & Co.:
Gabriel & Co. is a New York City-based jewelry design house that was founded in 1989 by brothers Jack and Dominick Gabriel. Family-owned and operated, the company began in New York City and has since evolved into one of the most prolific fine jewelry brands in the U.S., sold at more than 1,200 retailers nationwide. The story of Gabriel & Co. is one of passion, integrity, service, and trust. Gabriel creates beautifully unique and distinctive pieces that are designed to reflect the true beauty that is unique in all of us. Each piece is passionately designed and created as a crafted personal experience. By infusing human passion into natural elements, Gabriel creates jewelry that enhances and celebrates beauty and personal achievements. Individually numbered, each piece is as unique as the woman who wears it. Gabriel & Co. has consistently won awards since 2011 in both JCK & Instore Magazines for being one of the most innovative and best-performing brands in the jewelry industry.
The Gabriel Love™ Foundation was created to continue Gabriel’s history of philanthropy and to expand its charitable arm. We have dedicated our work of designing and creating jewelry to realize this vision as a way to share our love of life. By donating a portion of our profits that support philanthropic efforts, we have established our pathways toward improving life and helping those who are in need to a better future.
The WJA Foundation provides scholarships to female-identifying students enrolled in jewelry, metalsmithing, or watch programs at an accredited college, university, or training school between August 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025. Recipients are selected by a jury in early June and are awarded scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $7,000.
Scholarships are awarded in three categories:
- Designer/Creator (based on images of finished pieces that are designed and created by the student)
- Designer (based on designs by the student, including CAD and drawings)
- Non-Designer (essay-based for those studying to be a gemologist, appraiser, watchmaker, bench jeweler, or retailer)
Due to fund regulations, scholarships are paid directly to the school. Recipients must email their bill(s) to WJA Headquarters, and a check will be sent directly to the institution.
Eligibility:
- Female or female-identifying student
- Enrolled in jewelry, metalsmithing, or watch program at an accredited college, university, or training school within the United States
Student applicants are offered a complimentary WJA membership by clicking here.
For questions about this scholarship, email us: info@womensjewelryassociation.org
APPLICATION PERIOD: MARCH 1 - APRIL 30, 2025
Click here to view recent grant and scholarship winners.
Contribute a tax-deductible gift to the Foundation to support our grant and scholarship programs.
