One of the best — again!

We are very pleased to announce that the Earth Sangha has once again been named “one of the best” small charities in the DC region by the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington.

The Catalogue focuses on small nonprofits (those with budgets under $3 million), because the Catalogue believes in their power to spark big change. As the only locally-focused guide to giving, the Catalogue’s goal is to create visibility for the best community-based charities, fuel their growth with philanthropic dollars, and create a movement for social good in the greater Washington region. The Catalogue charges no fees; it raises funds separately to support its work.

Since its inception 15 years ago, the Catalogue has raised $38 million for nonprofits in the region. It also offers training, neighborhood-based opportunities for collaboration, and a speakers series for people who want to learn about and engage with the needs, challenges, and accomplishments of our shared community.

After a thorough review of both our program activities and our finances, the Catalogue admitted the Sangha to its Class of 2017-18. This is our fourth time in the Catalogue; our previous classes were: 2013-14, 2009-10, and 2005-06. (Charities can apply only once every four years.) The Catalogue’s endorsement means that donors can be confident that we are worthy of their support.

This year, Catalogue reviewers helped select 76 charities to feature in the Catalogue’s print edition, 34 of which are new to the Catalogue this year. (The Sangha is among those that will be covered in print.) The Catalogue selected an additional 32 nonprofits to be re-featured on its website, and congratulated ten on growing beyond its $3 million budgetary limit. The network now includes over 400 vetted nonprofits working in the arts, education, environment, human services, and international sectors throughout greater Washington. (International charities must be headquartered in the DC region.)

“People want to know where to give and they need trusted information. Based on our in-depth review, we believe that the Earth Sangha is one of the best community-based nonprofits in the region,” says Barbara Harman, the Catalogue’s founder and president.

Our selection for the latest Catalogue Class is an important vote of confidence. It will help us reach more people, and introduce them to this region’s magnificent and varied assemblage of meadows, forests, and wetlands. It will help us explain the problems that beset these natural places — and it will help build a stronger mandate for conserving them.

Pictured above: On Wednesday, June 8th, we worked with students on the first phase of a native garden at Hunters Wood Elementary School. The students installed 500 native grasses and forbs! We will follow up with an additional planting this fall.