The Earth Day Network was founded in 1993 with a goal of creating an international network dedicated to supporting grassroots Earth Day organizing.

Earth Day New York and San Diego Earth Day kept the fledgling entity going for a number of years but ultimately invited Denis Hayes to become chairman of the organization in time for Earth Day 2000. Under Denis’ leadership the Network organized the world-wide events for the 30th Anniversary and has grown into an established Washington, DC-based organization that promotes environmental activism and year-round progressive action, domestically and internationally. Earth Day Network members include NGOs, quasi-governmental agencies, local governments, activists, and others. Earth Day Network members focus on environmental education; local, national, and global policies; public environmental campaigns; and organizing national and local earth day events to promote activism and environmental protection. The international network reaches more than 25,000 organizations in 192 countries, while the domestic program engages 10,000 groups and more than 100,000 educators coordinating millions of community development and environmental-protection activities throughout the year.