The Falls Church-based Charles Darwin Foundation, Inc. (CDF, Inc.) is pleased to reintroduce the organization as Galapagos Conservancy. With more than twenty years of success as the largest private funder of Galapagos conservation, CDF, Inc. is changing its name to better signal its mission and its program direction for the future. Galapagos Conservancy will continue to focus its efforts on funding its key conservation partners in Ecuador, which are the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands and the Galapagos National Park. “Having a name which establishes our commonality of purpose will benefit both of our organizations,” says Johannah Barry, President of Galapagos Conservancy.

Who are we?
Founded in 1986, Galapagos Conservancy, formerly CDF, Inc., is the premier advocacy and fund-raising organization in the United States for conservation in the Galapagos Islands. We provide leadership for understanding the complex and rich ecosystems of Galapagos and for preserving this unique natural treasure. Our goal is to uphold the environmental integrity of the Galapagos archipelago and its surrounding marine territories by working with the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS), the resident population, and other partners to preserve Galapagos for future generations. We accomplish this goal by raising funds to support the operations of the CDF and GNPS and to implement specific research, conservation, education, and policy programs.  

Why are we changing the name?
CDF, Inc. is changing its name to focus attention on our core mission – the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. Galapagos Conservancy is the only U.S. organization solely dedicated to Galapagos conservation and is the largest private funder of Galapagos science, policy, and education. We also seek to eliminate the considerable confusion that has existed over the years among our members, the media, and potential collaborators regarding the difference between the Charles Darwin Foundation in Ecuador, and our organization in the US.

What is our conservation agenda?
The agenda of Galapagos Conservancy is guided by four major conservation initiatives in Galapagos: protecting and restoring terrestrial wildlife, ensuring the protection of the marine reserve and its inhabitants, promoting environmental awareness and local and international advocacy, and building and maintaining key institutional alliances. Our agenda in 2006 will expand to include more education and socio-economic policy work, while supporting the core research and management programs carried out by the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park. As Galapagos Conservancy, we will continue to develop and maintain excellent relationships with our NGO partners, the international scientific community, and the Government of Ecuador to protect Galapagos. We will work hard to keep our supporters and the interested public well informed and engaged in the work taking place in Galapagos.

Who are our key partners in Galapagos conservation?
The Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, founded in 1959, is our key scientific partner. An independent research and education institution headquartered in Quito, Ecuador, with a research station in the Galapagos Island, CDF carries out education, conservation, and scientific research in the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos National Park Service, established in 1968, is the Ecuadorian government institution charged with the management of the designated park areas of the Galapagos Islands (97% of the land base; 50,000 square miles of marine area). Funds from the Galapagos Conservancy support the Park Service’s work in management (interdiction, control), conservation, and education.

When will the name change go into effect and will it affect my charitable contribution?
As of January 1, 2006, we are the Galapagos Conservancy. Donations made to Galapagos Conservancy and CDF, Inc. will be recognized throughout 2006 and donors will be provided tax relief. The name change does not affect our tax status or our federal tax identification number. We remain a 501(c)(3) organization, and gifts are tax deductible as permitted by law.

How should credit card transactions and contributions be handled during the transition period from CDF, Inc. to Galapagos Conservancy? For those organizations which use them, we will be providing new credit card plates in late December. During the transition period, please continue using the CDF, Inc. plates until you receive the updated version bearing the name Galapagos Conservancy. As of January 1, 2006, donors should begin making checks payable to Galapagos Conservancy. However, checks bearing either name will be recognized and accepted throughout 2006. The name change does not affect our tax status or our federal tax identification number. We remain a 501(c)(3) organization, and gifts are tax deductible as permitted by law.

If you have any further questions or requests regarding other materials with the new Galapagos Conservancy name, please contact Jennifer Hickman at 703-538-6833 or email darwin@galapagos.org.