Coffee Quality Institute Announces Details Of Its 2026 Global Coffee Fund At The African Fine Coffee Association Conference – CoffeeTalk

Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) unveiled the details of its 2026 Global Coffee Fund at the African Fine Coffee Association Conference and Exhibition, aimed at enhancing access to coffee quality education in response to significant challenges facing the coffee sector. Michael Sheridan, CEO of CQI, described the Fund as a critical tool for addressing these challenges, particularly as public sector investment in coffee communities declines. In a celebration of CQI’s 30th anniversary, the organization is committed to increasing its investment to $500,000, urging industry partners to co-invest.

The Global Coffee Fund will focus its investments through two primary initiatives:

1. Project Awards: CQI will continue its grant program, allocating up to $100,000 in 2026 to projects that improve access to coffee education and support the development of local educators, particularly in underrepresented regions.
2. Matching Grants: Newly introduced for 2026, the Matching Grant initiative will allow CQI to co-invest with partners, providing a dollar-for-dollar match for $200,000 aimed at fostering projects aligned with its mission. This initiative has the potential to generate a total of $400,000 in new commitments, thereby enhancing CQI’s capacity to expand its global partnerships and impact within coffee-producing communities.

T.J. Ryan, managing director of programs at CQI, expressed enthusiasm regarding the Fund’s expansion, emphasizing the importance of building a resilient coffee sector through collaborative efforts with partners that share similar goals. Applications for funding will be accepted on a rolling basis.

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