Retro Software Foundation
Get Involved

Lend a hand to history.

The Foundation runs on volunteers — archivists, writers, engineers, and enthusiasts who give what time they can. You don't need a computer-science degree or a garage full of vintage hardware. You need curiosity and a few hours.

Start the conversationDonate materials instead
Ways to help

Find your role

Six ways to contribute, most of them remote. Pick what fits your skills and your schedule — or tell us you're game and we'll find the right spot.

In person · Remote

Digitization & Scanning

Image floppies, cassettes, and cartridges, and scan manuals at archival resolution. We train you on the rigs.

Remote

Cataloguing & Metadata

Describe titles with provenance, hardware, and condition so researchers can actually find them.

Remote

Writing for the Journal

Research and write for "From the Archive." Bring a thesis about CP/M, the 6502, or a forgotten title.

Remote

Software & Emulation

Build the interactive exhibits — emulators, charset explorers, and the tooling behind the archive.

In person

Events & Outreach

Run hands-on sessions at libraries and schools — booting real machines and reading real listings.

By mail

Donate a Collection

Have hardware, disks, or listings? Help us appraise and prepare an incoming collection for the archive.

Sign up

What we ask.

  • Care over speed. These are irreplaceable artifacts. We move deliberately and document everything.
  • A little consistency. A few hours a month, reliably, is worth more than a marathon weekend.
  • No heroics required. You'll never be asked to do something you weren't trained for.

Tell us you’re interested

We read every note and reply within a few business days. No commitment yet — this just starts the conversation.

Volunteers must be 16+ · Remote roles welcome worldwide

Not got the time? Give instead.

Every volunteer hour is matched by the cost of the equipment and storage behind it. A donation funds the rigs, the shelves, and the archivists who keep the work moving.

Make a Donation501(c)(3) · Tax-deductible