Nonprofit Universities in DC Avoided $111M in Local Taxes Last Year

If George Washington University were any other employer, it would owe $39 million in property taxes to Washington, D.C., each year. Georgetown University would have to fork over nearly $9 million; American University, $11 million; and Howard University, about $26 million.

But as nonprofit organizations, the universities—which control more than $10 billion worth of city real estate among them—are exempt from property taxes, just like churches, hospitals and the federal government. Local leaders have routinely raised concerns about these tax breaks and have pressed nonprofits to provide some form of compensation to the city, but their efforts consistently are beaten back.