WPFW
WPFW is a listener-supported community radio station in Washington, D.C., broadcasting on 89.3 FM via a 50,000-watt FCC-licensed signal. Owned by Pacifica Foundation Inc., it delivers jazz, blues, world music, and social justice programming to Mid-Atlantic and global digital audiences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WPFW does
WPFW is a listener-supported, non-commercial educational community radio station licensed to Pacifica Foundation Inc. and broadcasting on 89.3 FM from Washington, D.C. Founded in 1976 as part of the Pacifica Network, the station has operated continuously for nearly 50 years, serving listeners across the Mid-Atlantic region with a 50,000-watt signal reaching from southern Delaware to upper Richmond. Programming spans Jazz, Blues, World Music, Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul, House, and Roots music alongside grassroots news and public affairs content, most notably the syndicated Democracy Now! broadcast. More than 100 volunteer programmers produce the station's content, with a small paid staff of 51-100 employees supporting operations, compliance, and fundraising.
The station's technical footprint is built on three layers: a primary FCC-licensed FM broadcast at 89.3 MHz, web-based digital streaming via the Pacifica network infrastructure (streams.pacifica.org), and dedicated native mobile applications for iOS and Android. Supplementary digital products include archived on-demand shows, curated programmer playlists, an interactive schedule grid, and integration with regional calendar services such as CapitalBop's DC Jazz Calendar and Blues and Roots. The broadcast license, the 50,000-watt infrastructure, and the multi-channel digital distribution collectively extend reach from a Mid-Atlantic core to a global online audience.
WPFW's commercial model is structured around recurring listener donations rather than advertising. Membership tiers range from $25 (Basic Pacifica Membership, which confers voting rights in Pacifica Foundation board elections) through $40, $60, $75, $89.30, $100, $120, $150, $240, $365, $500, and up to $1,000, generally on an annual pledge cadence. A formal Sponsorship and Underwriting program serves as a second revenue line by selling access to the engaged listener base to mission-aligned businesses and organizations. A vehicle donation channel operated through CarEasy adds a non-cash giving option. The station is governed by a Local Station Board and participates in Pacifica Foundation Inc.'s national governance and board election cycles, giving donors a formal mechanism of influence over the station's direction.
WPFW firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WPFW
- Legal name
- Pacifica Foundation Inc.
- Website
- https://wpfwfm.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- WPFW is a listener-supported community radio station in Washington, D.C., broadcasting on 89.3 FM via a 50,000-watt FCC-licensed signal. Owned by Pacifica Foundation Inc., it delivers jazz, blues, world music, and social justice programming to Mid-Atlantic and global digital audiences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WPFW industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB), Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style) (MPABABAB)
Keywords
Where WPFW is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WPFW business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Listener Donations and Membership: The station is primarily listener-supported through donations and membership pledges. Listeners become voting members by donating $25 or more between July 1 and June 30 annually.
- Sponsorships and Underwriting: Mission-aligned businesses and organizations can become sponsors or underwriters to support the station's programming and community mission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Basic Pacifica Membership - $25 minimum |
| Subscription | Annual | Basic WPFW Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Additional donation levels |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
WPFW product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WPFW is a non-commercial, listener-supported public radio station broadcasting at 89.3 FM on a 50,000-watt signal in the Washington DC area. It provides jazz, blues, world music, hip-hop, neo-soul, house, roots, and grassroots community news programming, distributed via over-the-air FM, web streaming, and mobile applications. The station operates as part of the Pacifica Network under the Pacifica Foundation.
Product overview
WPFW 89.3 FM is a community radio station operated by the Pacifica Network, offering a unified platform combining broadcast radio (50,000-watt FCC-licensed signal reaching from southern Delaware to upper Richmond), digital streaming services via web and mobile apps (iOS and Android), and on-demand content (archived shows and playlists). The station provides programming that blends Jazz, Blues, World Music, Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul, House, and Roots music with grassroots news and public affairs content including Democracy Now!. Revenue is generated through listener donations, membership programs, and corporate sponsorships/underwriting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FM Radio Broadcast (89.3 FM)
- Mobile App (iOS and Android)
- Live Web Streaming
- Archived Shows and Podcasts
- Underwriting / Sponsorship Announcements
Companies that use WPFW
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
WPFW technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
WPFW partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Pacifica NetworkcoreWPFW is a proud part of the Pacifica Network, a national non-commercial radio network dedicated to social justice. Pacifica Foundation Inc. oversees national and local board elections, manages the election website, and sends ballots for voting. WPFW participates in Pacifica's programming sharing and network-wide initiatives.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WPFW competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KPFA 94.1 FM: Pacifica Network flagship station in Berkeley, CA. Directly comparable as the foundational community/listener-supported station in the same Pacifica network with similar programming mission of independent news, music, and social justice content.
- WBAI 99.5 FM: Pacifica Network station in New York City. Directly comparable as a sister Pacifica station serving a major metropolitan audience with similar mission-driven programming and listener-supported funding.
- KPOO 89.5 FM: San Francisco-based community radio station. Comparable as a listener-supported, volunteer-driven community station with diverse music programming and grassroots public affairs content serving a major metropolitan audience.
- WFMU 91.1 FM: Listener-supported freeform community radio station in New Jersey. Comparable as a non-commercial, volunteer-powered station with eclectic music programming and audience-funded operations, though not part of Pacifica Network.
- KPFT 90.1 FM: Pacifica Network station in Houston, TX. Directly comparable Pacifica affiliate with the same non-commercial, volunteer-powered model and social justice programming focus.
- KPFK 90.7 FM: Pacifica Network station in Los Angeles. Directly comparable as a sister Pacifica station with the same listener-supported funding model, progressive programming mix, and community radio operations.
Broad incumbents
- WNYC 93.9 FM: Major New York public radio station owned by New York Public Radio. Comparable as a large-scale non-commercial public radio entity offering news, talk, and music programming through broadcast and digital streaming with listener/member support.
- WAMU 88.5 FM: Major NPR affiliate serving the Washington DC area. Comparable as a non-commercial public radio station in the same market, though it operates at significantly larger scale and produces mainstream news/talk programming rather than Pacifica's progressive/community focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WPFW social profiles
Digital presenceWPFW financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WPFW leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
WPFW funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WPFW M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WPFW
What does WPFW do?
WPFW is a non-commercial, listener-supported public radio station broadcasting at 89.3 FM on a 50,000-watt signal in the Washington DC area. It provides jazz, blues, world music, hip-hop, neo-soul, house, roots, and grassroots community news programming, distributed via over-the-air FM, web streaming, and mobile applications. The station operates as part of the Pacifica Network under the Pacifica Foundation.
Is WPFW a public or private company?
WPFW is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WPFW founded?
WPFW was founded in 1976. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is WPFW based?
WPFW is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does WPFW make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Listener Donations and Membership is the primary driver. The others are sponsorships and Underwriting.
Who are WPFW's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KPFA 94.1 FM, WBAI 99.5 FM, KPOO 89.5 FM, WFMU 91.1 FM, KPFT 90.1 FM and KPFK 90.7 FM. Broad incumbents are WNYC 93.9 FM and WAMU 88.5 FM.
Does WPFW have an API?
No public API is recorded for WPFW.
What industry is WPFW in?
WPFW's product category is Public Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAB, Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus), with a secondary code of MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.