As a nonprofit employer in the District of Columbia, unemployment insurance can feel like a fixed cost. Something that just shows up on a bill and gets paid. But 501(c)(3) organizations have options that often go unexplored, and small decisions can add up to meaningful savings.
DC’s unemployment tax rates have held steady heading into 2026, and the district’s taxable wage base remains among the lowest in the country at $9,000. That stability can make it easy to put UI costs on autopilot. But for many DC nonprofits, the tax-paying route means subsidizing other employers’ claims through the shared pool, whether your own claims history warrants it or not. The reimbursing option exists specifically to address that, and it’s a choice many organizations either don’t know they have or haven’t revisited in years.
In this session, we’ll cut through the complexity and give you a straightforward look at how the system works, where the real cost drivers are, and what your organization can do about them. We’ll cover the reimbursing option specifically, including what it is, who it works well for, and when it doesn’t make sense.
This session is designed for Executive Directors, CFOs, Controllers, and HR Directors who want practical information they can actually use.
By the end of this 30-minute session, you will have:
- A clearer picture of what’s driving your unemployment costs
- A working understanding of all options available to 501(c)(3) organizations, including reimbursing
- Concrete steps for becoming a more proactive manager of your unemployment insurance
Speaker: Jenessa Ponco, Member Development Representative, 501(c) Services
This webinar is provided as general advice and information, and should not be construed as legal advice. Neither 501(c) Agencies Trust nor 501(c) Insurance Programs, Inc. (collectively 501) guarantees that the information herein is complete or correct, and 501 disclaims all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this webinar or information given verbally or in written form. Please consult licensed legal counsel in the viewer’s state.
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