Positive Force
Positive Force DC is a Washington, DC-based activist collective founded in 1985 that organizes benefit concerts, protests, educational events, and direct mutual aid programs (including grocery delivery to low-income seniors) for the DC punk community and partner nonprofits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Positive Force does
Positive Force DC is a Washington, DC-based activist collective founded in 1985 by Mark Andersen and Kevin Mattson during the Revolution Summer movement of the DC punk and hardcore scene. The organization organizes benefit shows, free concerts, art shows, film screenings, protests, and educational events while conducting direct mutual aid work, including grocery bag assembly, grocery box assembly, and grocery delivery for low-income seniors in partnership with We Are Family DC. Its stated mission is radical social change, personal growth, and youth empowerment, framed around 'flexible, creative rebellion' rather than ideological dogma.
The collective operates without a traditional revenue model; events are predominantly free or low-cost, with advance tickets sold via Eventbrite at nominal prices and proceeds directed to a rotating slate of beneficiary organizations including Ayuda, Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, Gaza Soup Kitchen, We Are Family DC, Defend DC Coalition, and SMYAL. The primary venue is St. Stephen's Church at 1525 Newton Street NW. The 1989 'State Of The Union' benefit compilation raised more than $20,000 for the Community for Creative Non-Violence and ACLU, and Dischord Records is re-issuing the album as a color vinyl release with proceeds benefiting We Are Family DC.
The 2025 40th Anniversary Gathering (June 19-23) and a four-film series at the American Film Institute (July 6-17, 2025) represent the organization's flagship recent programming, drawing on deep ties to the Dischord Records ecosystem, musicians including members of Fugazi, Soulside, Swiz, Tsunami, and others, and a network of advocacy organizations. With 16 staff and no disclosed revenue, funding rounds, or parent organization, Positive Force DC functions as a grassroots, volunteer-driven community organization with flat structure.
Positive Force firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Positive Force
- Legal name
- Positive Force DC
- Website
- https://positiveforcedc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Positive Force DC is a Washington, DC-based activist collective founded in 1985 that organizes benefit concerts, protests, educational events, and direct mutual aid programs (including grocery delivery to low-income seniors) for the DC punk community and partner nonprofits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Positive Force industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Organizing and Activist Event Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)
Keywords
Where Positive Force is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Positive Force business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Benefit Concert Proceeds: Organizes benefit concerts where proceeds go to community organizations. The 1989 benefit compilation 'State Of The Union' raised over $20,000 for Community for Creative Nonviolence (CCNV) and ACLU. Vinyl re-issues benefit We Are Family DC.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free community events |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Positive Force product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Positive Force is an activist collective that organizes benefit concerts, free concerts, art shows, film screenings, protests, and educational events for radical social change, personal growth, and youth empowerment. The collective also provides direct mutual aid services, including grocery bag and box assembly and grocery delivery for low-income seniors in partnership with We Are Family DC. Founded in the 1980s DC punk and hardcore scene, the organization uses music-based community organizing to raise funds for advocacy nonprofits and to coordinate mutual aid, education, and protest activities.
Product overview
Positive Force DC is an activist collective (not a technology company) that operates as a single unified organization offering community organizing services, benefit events, educational programming, and cultural events. The organization does not have a software product, platform, or digital services. Its primary offerings include the 40th Anniversary Gathering event (June 2025), benefit concert series supporting various mutual aid organizations, a film series at the American Film Institute, and vinyl re-issues of historical punk compilation albums. These are community organizing and advocacy services, not technology products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Benefit Concert Series Organized benefit concerts supporting various social justice causes and nonprofit beneficiaries, including Ayuda and Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network (June 20), Gaza Soup Kitchen and We Are Family DC (June 21), and Defend DC Coalition and SMYAL (June 22). Advance tickets are sold through Eventbrite at nominal prices, with proceeds directed to the named beneficiary nonprofits. Concerts are held at St. Stephen's Church (1525 Newton Street NW) in Washington, DC.
- Revolution Summer Film Series at the American Film Institute A four-film series at the American Film Institute (July 6-17, 2025) celebrating the 40th anniversary of DC punk's Revolution Summer, featuring PUNK THE CAPITAL: BUILDING A SOUND MOVEMENT, POSITIVE FORCE: MORE THAN A WITNESS, WE ARE FUGAZI FROM WASHINGTON, DC, and SALAD DAYS: A DECADE OF PUNK IN WASHINGTON, DC, with filmmaker Q&As and ticket pricing at $8 per screening.
- State Of The Union Vinyl Re-issue Dischord Records color vinyl re-issue of the 1989 benefit compilation album State Of The Union, originally compiled by Positive Force co-founder Mark Andersen and raising over $20,000 for the Community for Creative Nonviolence (CCNV) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The 2025 re-issue benefits We Are Family DC.
- Mutual Aid Grocery Programs Direct mutual aid services for low-income seniors in Washington, DC's Shaw neighborhood, including grocery bag assembly, grocery box assembly, and grocery delivery, operated in partnership with We Are Family DC as part of Positive Force's service work alongside benefit events.
Quantifiable outcome
- Raised over $20,000 in 1989 benefit compilation for CCNV and ACLU
Companies that use Positive Force
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Positive Force technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Positive Force partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dischord RecordscoreDischord Records is re-issuing the influential 1989 benefit compilation 'State Of The Union' in honor of Positive Force DC's 40th Anniversary. The original compilation was compiled by PF co-founder Mark Andersen and raised over $20,000 for CCNV and ACLU. The color vinyl re-issue will benefit We Are Family DC.
- American Film Institute (AFI)coreAFI is hosting a four-film series celebrating the 40th anniversary of DC punk's Revolution Summer and Positive Force DC. The series includes 'Punk The Capital: Building A Sound Movement', 'Positive Force: More Than A Witness', 'We Are Fugazi From Washington, DC', and 'Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk In Washington, DC'. Films feature Q&As with filmmakers and PF members.
- We Are Family DCcorePrimary community partner for grocery programs serving low-income seniors. Beneficiary of the Dischord Records vinyl re-issue proceeds and June 21st benefit concert.
- AyudaminorImmigration and domestic violence services organization. Beneficiary of June 20th benefit concert along with Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network.
- Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid NetworkminorMutual aid network supporting migrants. Beneficiary of June 20th benefit concert along with Ayuda.
- Gaza Soup KitchenminorHumanitarian aid organization. Beneficiary of June 21st benefit concert.
- Defend DC CoalitionminorDC advocacy coalition. Beneficiary of June 22nd benefit concert.
- SMYALminorLGBTQ+ youth organization supporting young people in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Beneficiary of June 22nd benefit concert.
- St. Stephen's ChurchcorePrimary venue for Positive Force DC events. Located at 1525 Newton Street NW. Church serves as event space for benefit concerts, rallies, and community gatherings.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Positive Force competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Positive Force social profiles
Digital presencePositive Force financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Positive Force leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Positive Force funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Positive Force 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 Positive Force
What does Positive Force do?
Positive Force is an activist collective that organizes benefit concerts, free concerts, art shows, film screenings, protests, and educational events for radical social change, personal growth, and youth empowerment. The collective also provides direct mutual aid services, including grocery bag and box assembly and grocery delivery for low-income seniors in partnership with We Are Family DC. Founded in the 1980s DC punk and hardcore scene, the organization uses music-based community organizing to raise funds for advocacy nonprofits and to coordinate mutual aid, education, and protest activities.
Is Positive Force a public or private company?
Positive Force is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Positive Force founded?
Positive Force was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Positive Force based?
Positive Force is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Positive Force make money?
One revenue line is on record: benefit Concert Proceeds.
Does Positive Force have an API?
No public API is recorded for Positive Force.
What industry is Positive Force in?
Positive Force's product category is Community Organizing and Activist Event Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAGAD, Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space, with a secondary code of BPAGAFAB, Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8300.