named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Hosted Trips
Up to two official certification trips per year to global pearl farms and institutions, designed to fulfill immersive experience requirements.
Certification Program
Point-based certification program with four levels recognizing knowledge and experience in the pearl industry. Includes educational courses and verified immersive experiences.
Immersive Experiences
Program offering verified experiences at pearl farms and museums worldwide, including Japan, French Polynesia, China, and other key pearl-producing regions.
Pearls As One course
Foundational educational course required for Pearl Specialist certification, covering types of cultured and natural pearls, history, production, and grading.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Jewelry and Gemstone Industry Advancement 3 activities
- Advocating for ethical practices and market relevance in the pearl industryPromotes ethical business practices among members and represents the pearl industry globally, including presenting at events like the Japan Pearl Fair to highlight the beauty and market value of akoya pearls. Rebranded in 2025 to reflect a broader mission beyond cultured pearls.
- Delivering comprehensive pearl education programsOffers the "Pearls As One" course and other educational modules covering the history, formation, identification, grading, and trade of both cultured and natural pearls—including specialized content on conch pearls—to a global audience of over 90,000 students and graduates. Provides free limited-time access to select modules and has expanded curriculum to include natural pearls.
- Organizing educational pearl farm tours in JapanConducts immersive, annual tours to working akoya pearl farms in Japan—such as in Uwajima, Mie, and Nagasaki Prefectures—for key opinion leaders, industry professionals, and enthusiasts. Tours include behind-the-scenes access to grafting and oyster care, live Ama diver demonstrations, opportunities to harvest cultured pearls, and visits to historical sites like Mikimoto Pearl Island.
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Women's Educational Advancement 1 activity
- Funding and sponsoring global pearl education initiativesProvides sponsorship and financial support through its Global Education Sponsor level for leading pearl producers and institutions, offering official recognition within the Pearls As One course and supporting broader efforts in pearl education, certification, and industry standards development.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Operating a tiered membership and certification program for pearl professionalsOffers four levels of individual and organizational membership (Enthusiast, Supporter, Premium, Elite) providing access to educational resources and industry engagement. Runs a point-based certification system requiring knowledge demonstration and immersive experiences, with verification via photo evidence and written reflections.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$92K
Contributions & grants$47K51%
Program service revenue$45K49%
Investment income$20%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$124K
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$46K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$34K
Cash$151K
Investments$0
Liabilities$686
Net assets$31K
Liquid reserves14.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -4.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reema Farooqui | ED (2025) | 40 | $46K |
board members · 4
- Andrew Moline — Director
- Eric Yen — Director
- Helena Blanchet — Director
- Matt Harris — Director
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- DANAT Partner — Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones specializing in natural pearl certification and research; supports educational programming.
- Fukae Pearl Farm Partner — Hosted participants and facilitated a meeting with the Governor of Nagasaki Prefecture during the November 2025 tour.
- GIA Pearl Laboratory Partner — Collaborates on pearl identification and grading research as part of natural pearl education experiences.
- Gemological Institute of America Partner — Collaborates with GIA in support of pearl education, certification, and industry standards within the Pearls As One course
- Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association Partner — Co-organized and hosted the 2025 pearl farm tours in Japan.
- Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association Partner — Collaborated on a pearl tour and joint participation in the 7th Japan Pearl Fair in Kobe.
- Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association Partner — Collaborated with the Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association on a pearl tour, including attendance at the 7th Japan Pearl Fair.
- Kitamura Pearl Farm Partner — Hosted participants during the November 2025 Japan Pearl Tour on Tsushima Island.
- Mikimoto Pearl Island Partner — Collaborates to provide educational experiences about pearl cultivation and history.
- Mikimoto Pearl Island Partner — Promotes Mikimoto Pearl Island as a destination for pearl lovers.
- Mikimoto Pearl Island Partner — Visited by participants during the November 2025 tour to learn about the history and development of cultured pearls.
- Museum of Islamic Art Partner — Hosts Gulf natural pearls in historic artifacts accessible for natural pearl education.
- Musée du Louvre Partner — Offers exposure to natural pearls in historical regalia and artworks for certification-related education.
- Otsuki Pearl Co. Ltd. Partner — Visited and featured Otsuki Pearl Company in Kobe to showcase Akoya pearl production.
- Sasebo Pearl Farm Partner — Provided participants with the opportunity to harvest cultured akoya pearls during the November 2025 tour.
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Partner — Hosts natural pearl education experiences for certification program participants.
- Victoria and Albert Museum Partner — Provides access to historic jewelry featuring natural pearls for educational purposes.
- international pearl-producing groups Network — Supported by international pearl-producing groups that share the organization's vision.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Education-Driven Market Developmentmethodology: market-development-through-education-and-promotionBy combining education, promotion, and ethical practices, we expand consumer interest and market demand for pearls, because informed consumers are more likely to value and purchase them. This approach links public awareness directly to sales growth through advocacy and learning.
- Progressive Certification Through Integrated Learningmethodology: point-based certificationBy combining education, immersive experiences, and cultural engagement into a point-based certification system, we validate expertise in a way that motivates sustained engagement, because structured, experiential progression reinforces both knowledge retention and professional credibility.
- Storytelling-Based Supply Chain Transparencymethodology: farm-to-market storytellingBy aligning educational content with the physical journey of pearls from farm to market, we build consumer trust and authenticity, because narratives grounded in provenance and cultural history make abstract claims of quality and ethics tangible and persuasive.