Volunteer with WPFW

The Story of Our Signal

Welcome home. WPFW was not built in a boardroom; it was born in a basement on U Street in 1977. Our elders—a group of DC organizers—knew that if we didn’t control our own frequencies, we couldn't control our own narrative. They believed that Jazz, Funk, Soul, and the struggle for human dignity deserved a permanent home on the dial.

Today, we are still volunteer-powered and listener-supported. We don't chase algorithms; we chase the groove and the truth. Every voice you hear is a neighbor who showed up because they believed in our community. When you volunteer here, you are helping to maintain radio as a civil right and a public commons for all of us.

Click here and sign up to volunteer with WPFW.

Find Your Frequency 

We have many ways for you to share your gifts. No matter your role, we believe curation is an act of love and every choice we make is a political one.

On-Air Programmer: Host your own show, curate a set, or interview artists. We provide the training; you provide the music knowledge and love for the community.

Broadcast Engineer: Keep the signal strong. You’ll handle the tech, support live broadcasts, and troubleshoot equipment in the studio.

Community Outreach: Be the face of WPFW. You will represent us at festivals, build relationships with local artists, and grow our family through grassroots work.

Archive & Research: Help us preserve 49 years of DC’s sound. You will digitize recordings, catalog our vinyl library, and help build the definitive archive of our history.