Pacifica National Board & Local Station Board Elections

New Direct Member Elections for The Pacifica Foundation, Inc. National Board and Local Station Boards

The Pacifica Foundation, Inc. was the first democratic listener-sponsored public radio network in the nation. Members elect board representatives every three years.

The revised 2025 Pacifica Bylaws include changes in the following:

  • Makeup and size of the Pacifica National Board and the Local Station Boards
  • New direct member voting for:
    • Pacifica National Board Officers, Station Representatives, Staff, and Volunteer Team Members
    • Local Station Board Officers, Staff, and Volunteer Team Members

Pacifica National Board Positions

Listeners, Staff, and Volunteer Team Members from all of the stations collectively elect 4 Officers:

  • Chair: Presides at meetings of the Board of Directors and carries out powers and assigned duties.
  • Vice Chair: Presides at meetings of the Board of Directors as needed and carries out powers and assigned duties.
  • Secretary: Keeps minutes of meetings and actions of the Board and committees of the Board, gives notice of meetings of the Board, and shall have powers and perform assigned duties
  • Treasurer: Presents and interprets statements of the conditions of the finances of the Foundation at regular meetings and serves as chair of the National Finance Committee.

Listener Members from each of the five stations elect one Pacifica National Board Director for a total of five Station Representative Directors who share in the powers and duties of the Pacifica National Board.

Staff and Volunteer Team Members from all of the five stations collectively elect two Staff or Volunteer Team Members who share in the powers and duties of the Pacifica National Board

The Pacifica Association of Affiliates nominates two Affiliate Representative Directors to be elected by the Pacifica National Board, who share in the powers and duties of the Pacifica National Board.

The newly elected Pacifica National Board then elects two At-Large Directors based on their skills and experience, who share in the powers and duties of the Pacifica National Board.

Pacifica National Board Powers and Duties

The Pacifica National Board provides direction for the Pacifica Foundation Inc., subject to California law, Federal and tax laws, FCC Regulations, laws regulating nonprofit corporations, the Pacifica Foundation, Inc. Articles of Incorporation, and the Pacifica Bylaws.

Their duties include:

  • Ensuring and facilitating fulfillment of the purposes of the Pacifica Foundation, Inc.
  • Ensuring compliance with applicable state and federal laws;
  • Ensuring the financial health of the Pacifica Foundation, Inc. by adopting and monitoring an annual budget and overseeing an independent annual audit of the Foundation’s books and accounts;
  • Ensuring regular communication with the Members;
  • Appointing, supervising, establishing the powers and duties of, and discharging the Pacifica Foundation, Inc.’s Executive Director
  • Overseeing the conduct, management, and control of the Pacifica Foundation, Inc.’s affairs and activities, monitoring of the activities and actions of its radio stations and national staff;
  • Meeting to carry out the duties of the Board;
  • Registering as board members;
  • Assisting with off-air membership recruitment;
  • Assisting with major donor fundraising and other fundraising activities; and
  • Assisting with publicity efforts for the Pacifica Foundation, Inc.

Local Station Board Positions

Local Station Board Officers and Staff members are elected by the members at each of the five stations:

  • WPFW in Washington, DC
  • WBAI in New York City
  • KPFT in Houston
  • KPFK in Los Angeles
  • KPFA in Berkeley

The Listener Members at each station elect five Officers- Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Outreach Coordinator, and Membership/Fundraising Coordinator– who share in the powers and duties of the Local Station Board.

  • Chair: Presides at meetings of the Local Station Board and carries out powers and assigned duties.
  • Vice Chair: Presides at meetings of the Local Station Board as needed and carries out powers and assigned duties.
  • Secretary: Keeps minutes of meetings and actions of the Local Station Board, gives notice of meetings of the Board, and shall have powers and perform assigned duties.
  • Outreach Coordinator: Assists station management with designated activities.
  • Membership/Fundraising Coordinator: Assists station management with designated activities.

The Staff and Volunteer Team Members elect two Staff and Volunteer Team Members who share in the powers and duties of the Local Station Board.

The newly elected Local Station Board elects six Additional Members based on relevant skills and experience who share in the powers and duties of the Local Station Board.

The Local Station Boards are committees of the national board with these duties:
  • Work with station management to ensure that station programming fulfills the purposes of the Pacifica Foundation, Inc. and is responsive to the diverse needs of the listeners (demographic) and communities (geographic) served by the station.
  • Assist in station fund-raising activities, including off-air membership recruitment for the station.
  • Actively reach out to underrepresented communities to help the station serve a diverse range of races, creeds, colors, nations, classes, genders, sexual orientations, and ages.
  • Help build collaborative relationships with organizations working toward similar goals.
  • Perform community needs assessments.
  • Assist with the station’s publicity efforts.