Some 1,000 native plant species occur naturally within 50 miles of the Washington Monument, but even within our parks, native plants are under siege by invasive alien plants, storm water runoff, and a host of other pressures. Earth Sangha (“sangha” means “community”) maintains a Wild Plant Nursery, with over 320 native species in propagation, providing the most comprehensive selection of native plant material in the region. Its restoration work – primarily invasive alien plant control and native plant re-vegetation – reaches 10 field sites a year and includes stream-buffer, forest, and meadow restoration. The School Greening program supplies native plants for gardening projects at 40 local schools per year. Most of us cannot name the plants we see daily or recognize an eroding stream bank. That disconnection – between our lives and our landscape – is something Earth Sangha works to repair.

Headquarters: VA-Fairfax County

Where They Operate: VA-Arlington County; VA-Fairfax County; VA-Prince William County; VA-City of Alexandria; VA-City of Fairfax; VA-City of Falls Church; Internationally; Dominican Republic

Population(s) Served: Not applicable

Schools They Work In: Bailey's Elementary School; Battlefield High School; Beech Tree Elementary School; Belvedere Elementary School; Bishop O'Connell High School; Browne Academy; Bryant Alternative High School; Burgunday Farm County Day School; Campbell Elementary School; Centre Ridge Elementary School; Centreville Elementary School; Community Academy Public Charter School-Butler; Cub Run Elementary School; Daniel's Run Elementary School; Fairfax High School; Fairfax Villa Elementary School; Fairview Elementary School; Franklin Middle School; George C. Marshall High School; George Mason University ; Glen Forest Elementary School; Guilford Elementary School; GW Community School; Howard Gardner School; Kimball Elementary School; James W. Robinson Secondary School; Lake Anna Elementary School; Lake Braddock Secondary School; Laurel Ridge Elementary School; Lemon Road Elementary School; Lorton Elementary School; Luther Jackson Elementary School; Lynbrook Elementary School; Manassas Park Elementary School; Marshall High School; Montesorri School of Annandale; Montesorri School of Northern Virginia, Hillbrook Campus; Mount Vernon High School; Navy Elementary School; Northern Virginia Community College; Peyton Randolph Elementary School; Randolph Elementary School; South County Secondary School; Stuart High School; Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart; Washington Mill Elementary School; Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School; Wakefield Highschool; West Springfield High School; Westlawn Elementary School; Weyanoke Elementary School


  • Acres of threatened tropical forest protected (along the Dominican Republic / Haiti border):   180
  • Small-holder farms receiving low-cost credit (along the Dominican Republic / Haiti border):   28
  • Species of native plants in propagation from the wild for local restoration projects (DC area):   250
  • Number of wild-propagated native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants distributed to local parks and schoolyards every year (DC area):   15,000
  • Acres of local parkland currently in restoration (DC area):   45

Awards & Recognition

Fairfax County Land Conservation Award for Tree Conservation (2005)
Fairfax County Park Authority Elly Doyle Award for Service to the Parks (2005)
Virginia Recreation and Park Society Volunteer Award (2006)
St. John's Community Services Partner Award (2007)
Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Award for Organizations (2009)
George Mason University's New Century College award for Outstanding Community Partner (Oct. 2010)
Guidestar Exchange Gold Level (Nov. 2014)

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • The current budget for Earth Sangha is: $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

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