What 501(c) Agencies Trust does

501(c) Agencies Trust is a nonprofit unemployment trust founded in 1982 by a coalition of nonprofit executives to provide a collective alternative to state unemployment tax (SUI) systems. The trust operates as a reimbursing employer with a 0% SUI tax rate for member states, and serves nearly 1,500 participating nonprofit organizations across human services, youth development, disability services, and community services verticals. Members collectively save more than $20 million per year compared to what they would pay into state unemployment systems, based on payroll-based contributions tied to each member's workforce and risk profile.

The trust's product is a bundled risk management suite anchored by unemployment claims management, supplemented by HR assistance, re-employment services, and optional stop-loss protection. The organization runs multiple online portals — a Claims Portal (portal.tnc.app), a Customer Portal hosted on Microsoft Power Apps Portals, and a CaseBuilder tool for tracking response compliance — alongside cookie-based analytics and CRM for member management. Equifax operates as the core claims management partner, reviewing state agency forms and coordinating information requests with members. The administrator, 501(c) Services, has run the program for over 40 years.

Commercially, the trust operates a subscription-style recurring contribution model: members submit quarterly payroll wage reports and contribute to a collective operating and reserve pool scaled to their payroll. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set via inquiry. Distribution is direct to nonprofit executives and HR leaders through a 'Join Us' funnel, supported by 50+ annual virtual and on-site trainings, a monthly newsletter, blog content, and social channels. No venture, private equity, or public ownership is indicated; the organization is a member-owned trust administered by 501(c) Services.

Name

501(c) Agencies Trust

Legal name

501(c) Agencies Trust

Website

https://501ctrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

501(c) Agencies Trust is a nonprofit unemployment trust founded in 1982 that serves nearly 1,500 member nonprofits with a 0% SUI tax rate, pooled claims management, HR assistance, re-employment services, and stop-loss protection, administered by 501(c) Services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Unemployment Trust Services

NAICS

Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592), Other Insurance Funds (525190)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Surety Insurance (6351)

akta.pro primary industry

Employee Benefit & Retirement Plan Trust Services (FSAAANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trust Administration & Fiduciary Accounting Services (FSAAANAF), Corporate & Institutional Trust Services (FSAAANAB)

Keywords

• Unemployment trust services
• Nonprofit claims management
• Stop-loss protection
• Re-employment services
• Nonprofit HR compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Trust Membership Contributions: Nonprofit organizations pay into the collective trust as members. The trust operates as a reimbursing employer with a 0% SUI tax rate for member states. Members submit quarterly payroll wage reports and contribute to collective operating expenses and reserve accounts based on their payroll.
2. Stop-Loss Protection Options: The organization offers stop-loss protection options as part of their comprehensive risk management services to protect member organizations from excessive unemployment claims costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

501(c) Agencies Trust operates a collective unemployment trust that enables 501(c) nonprofit organizations to leave state unemployment tax systems, offering claims management, HR assistance, re-employment services, and stop-loss protection under a 0% SUI tax rate structure. Members contribute quarterly based on payroll and receive integrated risk management support in exchange for participation in a pooled trust of nearly 1,500 nonprofits.

Product overview

501(c) Agencies Trust operates as a comprehensive unemployment trust program for nonprofit organizations. The core offering is the 501(c) Agencies Trust unemployment program, which enables nonprofits to leave the state unemployment tax system. This core product is supported by several integrated service modules including Unemployment Claims Management (handling the full claims lifecycle from initial response through hearings and appeals), HR Assistance (providing guidance on documentation, compliance, and employment practices), Re-employment Services, and Stop-Loss Protection Options. The organization also provides educational webcasts and training sessions as part of its member support services. Together, these components form a comprehensive risk management suite designed to lower turnover costs for nonprofit employers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 501(c) Agencies Trust Membership The core membership offering of the trust that enables 501(c) nonprofit organizations to leave the state unemployment tax system and join a collective unemployment pool of nearly 1,500 participating nonprofits, with members contributing based on organizational payroll.
• Unemployment Claims Management Comprehensive management of unemployment claims for member nonprofit organizations, covering initial claim responses, protest filing, hearing representation, and appeal handling through the Board of Review stage.
• HR Assistance HR support services for member nonprofits covering documentation best practices, separation procedures, employee handbooks, and compliance with employment laws.
• Re-employment Services Services that help separated employees return to work, supporting both the employee and employer through the unemployment claims process.
• Stop-Loss Protection Options Risk management add-on that protects member organizations from excessive financial exposure to large or unexpected unemployment claims.
• Educational Webcasts and Training More than 50 annual educational trainings delivered virtually and on-site to participating organizations on unemployment, HR topics, COVID-19 response, employee handbook updates, and HR compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves nonprofits more than $20 million per year versus state unemployment taxes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 501(c) ServicescoreOthers · 1 January 1982501(c) Services is the administrator of 501(c) Agencies Trust. They provide comprehensive unemployment cost solutions, claims management, and HR support to nonprofit organizations. The organization has operated as a leader in this space for over 40 years.
• EquifaxcoreTechnology or Integration501(c) Agencies Trust's claims management partner. Equifax reviews claim forms received by state agencies and coordinates information requests with member organizations during the unemployment claims process.
• National Human Services AssemblycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization since 2005. CEO Lee Sherman serves on the board of 501(c) Agencies Trust. National Assembly members have access to 501(c) Agencies Trust services and the PurchasingPoint group purchasing program.
• YWCA YorkminorOthersMember of 501(c) Agencies Trust for 29 years according to testimonial. Has received state grants for underage drinking prevention programs.
• YWCA of BradfordminorOthersMember organization celebrating 100 years of service. Has been part of 501(c) Agencies Trust program for extensive period.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Financial Group: Major insurance and retirement provider with group benefits and stop-loss capabilities serving employer and nonprofit clients. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering employee benefit and risk management products to similar buyers.
• Voya Financial: Large financial services company providing retirement, employee benefits, and insurance solutions. Comparable as an incumbent benefits/insurance provider competing for the same nonprofit HR and benefits decision-makers, though with a broader retirement/health focus.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Nonprofit Practice): Large global insurance brokerage with a dedicated nonprofit practice providing risk management, claims handling, and insurance program design. Competes in serving the same nonprofit HR/risk management buyer with broader insurance portfolio.
• Sun Life Financial (U.S. Group Benefits): Major group benefits insurer serving employer stop-loss, disability, and voluntary benefits. Comparable stop-loss protection capabilities overlapping with 501(c) Agencies Trust's stop-loss offering, though focused on health-related stop-loss rather than unemployment.
• Church Mutual Insurance Company: Specialty insurer focused on religious organizations, nonprofits, and human services organizations. Provides broader commercial insurance coverage including property, liability, and risk management services to overlapping nonprofit customer base.
• Lockton Companies (Nonprofit Practice): Major independent insurance brokerage with a dedicated nonprofit and human services practice offering risk management, insurance placement, and claims advocacy. Comparable buyer relationship but broader service portfolio than 501(c) Agencies Trust.

Direct peers

• Safety National Casualty Corporation: Leading stop-loss insurance provider for employers and groups. Comparable because they offer the same stop-loss protection services that 501(c) Agencies Trust provides to its nonprofit members as part of the unemployment risk management suite.
• Nonprofits' Insurance Alliance Group: NIAG is a mutual insurance company formed by and for nonprofits, providing liability, property, and other coverage. Highly comparable model - member-owned organization serving the same nonprofit vertical with pooled risk arrangements similar to 501(c) Agencies Trust's unemployment pool.

Emerging players

• Thomas & Company: Third-party unemployment claims administrator serving employers across industries. Already partners with 501(c) Agencies Trust on fraud contact guidance, but could evolve into a more direct competitor offering similar pooled unemployment management services to nonprofits.
• CUNA Mutual Group / TruStage: Member-owned insurance and financial services cooperative, primarily serving credit unions and their members. Comparable mutual/cooperative model serving member organizations with pooled insurance and risk management products, though focused on financial cooperative sector.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/501cServices
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/501cagenciestrust1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/501-c-agencies-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/501cservices
• Facebookfacebook.com/501cServices

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 501(c) Agencies Trust