About Us

The Social Security Act is amended. Nonprofits are added to the unemployment tax system for the first time. Fortunately, specific rules give 501(c)(3)s employers a choice to participate in the state tax system or manage their own program reimburse the state for liable claims.

John Huckstadt, a former nonprofit executive director, uncovers the potential advantages available to nonprofits if they reimburse the state unemployment insurance tax system and conceptualizes a program to take advantage of the savings.

Under Huckstadt’s leadership, 14 California United Ways join the nation’s first grantor trust, the Joint Unemployment Compensation Trust, created to help 501(c)(3)s become reimbursing employers. A management company called 501(c) Services is formed to provide financial, administrative, claims management, membership development, and insurance services for the new trust.

501(c) Services, in consultation with five nonprofit executives, established the Washington Unemployment Compensation Trust with 100 nonprofit members in Washington State.

The Washington Unemployment Compensation Trust expands to include Alaska, Oregon, and Idaho. The new expanded trust is renamed the Northwest Unemployment Compensation  Trust. The Joint Unemployment Compensation Trust changes its name to Joint Agencies Trust.

A Labor & Industries program is created within the Northwest Unemployment Compensation Trust (It is still available to Washington State nonprofits today.) Northwest Unemployment Compensation Trust changes its name to Northwest Agencies Trust.

501(c) Services creates the BSA (Boy Scouts of America) Unemployment Plan.

The Joint Agencies Trust and the Northwest Agencies Trust are combined to form 501(c) Agencies Trust after 501(c) Services engages in strategic partnerships with national nonprofit organizations, such as America’s Second Harvest Food Banks, YMCA of the USA, Boys and Girls Club of America, National Human Service Assembly, and YWCA of the USA. It remains the oldest grantor trust of its kind.

501(c) Agencies Trust approaches 2000 members and over $100 million in assets – the largest such grantor trust of its kind.