The Winpisinger Center is now accepting applications for the 2026 Chris Wagoner Memorial Leadership Grant. The grant is intended to help local unions send current and emerging leaders to leadership training programs when financial resources are limited.
According to Official Circular 908, which set up the grant, funding is available annually for one local from each International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Territory. For 2025, this includes the Eastern, Midwestern, Western, Southern, Canadian and Air Transport Territories, as well as Headquarters and vicinity areas like the Rail Division. The grant reimburses all costs incurred by a local in sending a member to a leadership program at the Winpisinger Center.
The grant can be renewed for each selected local. A chosen member may attend up to four leadership programs—one per year—as long as they have completed the previous program satisfactorily and their local submits an accountability statement confirming their participation in union activities.
In 2025, seven locals across North America were awarded the inaugural Chris Wagoner Memorial Leadership Grant: Local 550 (Surrey, British Columbia), Local 4538 (Towson, Maryland), Local 1894 (South Ozone Park, New York), Local 2916 (Corpus Christi, Texas), Local 104 (Huntington, West Virginia), Local 1613 (Vandalia, West Virginia), and Local W38 (Shelton, Washington).
The grant was established by delegates at the 2024 IAM International Convention in memory of Chris Wagoner. Wagoner served as Director of the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center until his death in 2022 after more than three decades with IAM. “Brother Wagoner…believed that expanding opportunities for Leadership training was critical to our future growth and strength as a union.”
Applications for the next round of grants are due November 30.
