The Winpisinger Center has opened applications for the 2026 Chris Wagoner Memorial Leadership Grant, with a submission deadline of November 30. The grant aims to help local unions send current and emerging leaders to leadership training programs when financial resources are limited.
Established by Official Circular 908, the grant provides funding each year to one local from every International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Territory. This includes the Eastern, Midwestern, Western, Southern, Canadian, and Air Transport Territories, as well as Headquarters and vicinity, including the Rail Division. The grant reimburses all costs incurred by a local in sending a member to a leadership program at the Winpisinger Center.
Locals selected for the grant can renew it annually. Members chosen by their locals may attend up to four annual leadership programs if they complete each prior program satisfactorily and if their local submits an accountability statement confirming their participation in union activities.
In 2025, seven locals from across North America received 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. He was a member of IAM for three decades and advocated for expanding leadership training opportunities within the union.
“Brother Wagoner…believed that expanding opportunities for Leadership training was critical to our future growth and strength as a union.”
