It was not easy to make World Wildlife Fund agree to finance the project. Since it is an environmental organization, it does not support religious projects. World Wildlife Fund had to be persuaded that "this was not essentially a religious project, but this was a project about caring for nature". Finally the WWF agreed to fund the project. In funding Ranchor's project, WWF "saw the opportunity to highlight the ecological values of the cultures and religious traditions where the projects are funded". Funding was granted for three years, to run from 1991 through 1994, some $40,000 per year.