The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation. CEPF provides grants for non-governmental and private sector organizations to help protect biodiversity hotspots, Earth’s most biologically rich yet threatened areas. CEPF contributed to CNF’s start up and administrative costs with two grants in 2008 and 2010 totaling, $850,000, providing a crucial lifeline as CNF developed its program and internal structures. Visit: www.cepf.net