The board of trustees of the National Equipment Finance Association’s Chris Walker Education Fund is actively raising funds and accepting grant requests to honor Walker’s great service to the industry until the application deadline of Feb. 28. The fund will award a total of $20,000 in grants to be distributed by the end of February. The grant application process is available to individuals as well as associations, foundations and institutions. Individual grants may be requested up to $1,500 or an amount equal to the cost of qualified industry-related education.

Funds available through the Chris Walker Education Fund may be used for any project or need that provides industry education opportunities for leasing professionals. This includes grants for industry-related education, certifications (such as the Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) designation), educational initiatives of the NEFA, or other educational initiatives related to the equipment finance industry. Since its founding in 2011, the Chris Walker Education Fund has funded nearly $99,000 in educational grants. All grant requests must be submitted here.

Education was always important to Chris Walker, former NEFA member and member of the NEFA’s board of directors. When Walker passed away in 2011, many NEFA members and other industry professionals wanted some way they could make a donation to honor Walker and continue his great service to the equipment finance industry. This resulted in the creation within NEFA of the Chris Walker Education Fund.