Organize a WiM Chapter

At the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM), our mission is to support, promote and inspire women in the manufacturing industry. As a national organization, our members are connected to a network of WiM Chapters who fulfill this mission locally. WiM Chapters provide resources, networking opportunities and professional development for women at all levels of their careers. By organizing a WiM Chapter and/or becoming a WiM chapter leader, you join a thriving community committed to advancing women in manufacturing and driving innovation in the industry. We appreciate your dedication to our mission and look forward to collaborating with you to make a lasting impact.

To officially organize and launch a WiM Chapter, the below criteria must be met. Additionally, the developing chapter's leadership team must submit an application to the  WiM Board of Directors, who will approve all new chapters twice annually.

Chapter Development Application

VIEW APPLICATION

2024 Application Period

Applications for new WiM Chapters will be accepted July 1 - October 31, 2024.

The WiM Board of Directors will review all applications in November 2024 and approve new chapters to be formally recognized and developed in early 2025. All applicants will be notified in November-December 2024 whether their chapter has been approved for formal development. If selected, all leaders of the new chapter must attend a virtual onboarding session with WiM National on Thursday, January 16, 2025.

New Chapter Development Criteria

Before a WiM Chapter will be approved for formal development and recognition, the following requirements must be met:

1. There must be at least 100 current individual WiM members located in the state or region that the chapter will represent. Contact chapters@womeninmfg.org to learn the current membership count for your area.
2. The following leadership team roles must be filled: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Marketing Director, Membership Director, Events Director, Sponsorship Director.
3. All proposed chapter leaders must be current members of WiM.
4. At least 50% of the chapter leadership team must work for a manufacturing company.
5. At least three (3) different companies (manufacturing or other) must be represented on the chapter's proposed leadership team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are WiM Chapters always statewide organizations?

No -  WiM Chapters can represent a specific region or city, as long as all of the above criteria are met for the geographic region that the chapter would represent and the team of volunteers who would lead the chapter.

Does WiM have chapters outside of the United States?

Due to various logistical, legal and resource-related limitations, Women in Manufacturing is not developing official chapters outside of the United States at this time. Our staff and national Board of Directors are actively working on strategic long term planning for WiM to expand our member benefits and chapter network to support women in manufacturing careers outside of the U.S. In the meantime, WiM members not located in the U.S. can access all the member benefits available to U.S.-based members and are eligible to affiliate with and attend events hosted by any WiM Chapter. 

What if there is already a statewide or regional WiM Chapter that represents the geographic area of the proposed new chapter?

If a new WiM Chapter is proposed to represent a geographic area where there is already a WiM Chapter, the new chapter would operate as a regional committee of the existing chapter for at least 12 months. If the committee remains active for the duration of that period, the committee will be eligible to separate and become a standalone WiM Chapter. The existing Chapter would be re-branded as necessary to maintain clarity for WiM members.  

Can men or individuals who do not identify as a woman be WiM chapter leaders?

Yes! WiM is committed to a culture of inclusion that acknowledges and respects our differences while fostering a genuinely welcoming community where everyone can feel that they belong. WiM is a safe and respectful environment for people of all genders and gender identities; all races and ethnicities; all cultures and religions; all backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses; all sexual orientations; all ages and all abilities.