The World Monuments Fund (WMF), founded in 1965, is a private, non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving art and architecture. Its aims are: to make available to people today the heritage of man's extraordinary past achievements by encouraging the restoration and preservation of monuments of exceptional artistic, historical, and cultural significance throughout the world; to create an international constituency for monuments preservation by developing its own membership and conducting extensive education and advocacy activities; to develop a broad base of financial support – from private contributions and government funding to earned income – for monuments preservation and for related education and advocacy activities; and to foster the exchange of technical expertise in the areas of materials conservation, restoration methodologies, historical interpretation, financial procedures and education relating to the preservation of architectural monuments throughout the world. Based in New York, WMF works worldwide, promoting on-site conservation of cultural landmarks and art as well as supporting educational and interpretative activities. To date, WMF has orchestrated over 165 projects in 51 countries. WMF acts as a catalyst, identifying sites in need of preservation. The organisation works in co-operation with local communities, governments and preservation authorities to secure international support for necessary intervention. WMF also sponsors research, training, and exchange programmes to share its on-site conservation experience with students and craftspeople in the preservation field. WMF acts as an advocate for architectural conservation worldwide. WMF has spurred the private sector to join with governments around the world in preserving and maintaining major monuments and works of art. To aid in this work, WMF has set up affiliates in the countries in which it has an established level of ongoing activity. At present, WMF has chartered affiliates in France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom that are currently involved with 62 projects in 46 countries. In Europe, WMF is currently at work on conservation and planning for sites that include the sixteenth-century Tower of Belém in Lisbon, Portugal; the Castle and Rendezvous Folly of Valtice in the Czech Republic; Brancusi's Endless Column in Romania; the Temple Synagogue in Cracow, Poland; the Etz Hayim Synagogue of Hania in Crete; the ruins of the early Christian basilica of Ererouk in Armenia; and the Alexander Palace at Tsarkoje Selo, near St. Petersburg, Russia. In the Americas, WMF supports projects such as the preservation of the historic adobe churches of New Mexico; and conservation research at Easter Island, most recently focused on stabilising the fragile site of Orongo. In Việt Nam, the WMF is funding conservation projects at Minh Mạng Tomb in Huế and at the Mỹ Sơn temple complex in Quảng Nam Province.