"Executive Compensation Arrangements for Tax-Exempt Organizations" practice note by Venable counsel, Carol Calhoun, was published in Lexis Practice Advisor Newsletter on January 2, 2018. Here is an excerpt:
"Deferred compensation and other executive compensation plans and arrangements for tax-exempt organizations often differ from those established for taxable (for-profit) entities. This is due in part to the tax consequences for nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements commonly provided to executives. Although executives benefit from delayed taxation under such arrangements, a for-profit organization cannot deduct the related compensation expense until the benefits are paid. However, a tax-exempt organization is unconcerned with the tax benefit of compensation deductions. Hence, they have less incentive to avoid deferred compensation arrangements, which can result in undue delay and manipulation from the government's perspective. In addition, high levels of executive compensation in the nonprofit sector are a red flag area for violations of the private inurement prohibition applicable to tax-exempt entities. See 26 C.F.R. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(2). Consequently, special rules were developed to stem the potential for abuse."
"Deferred compensation and other executive compensation plans and arrangements for tax-exempt organizations often differ from those established for taxable (for-profit) entities. This is due in part to the tax consequences for nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements commonly provided to executives. Although executives benefit from delayed taxation under such arrangements, a for-profit organization cannot deduct the related compensation expense until the benefits are paid. However, a tax-exempt organization is unconcerned with the tax benefit of compensation deductions. Hence, they have less incentive to avoid deferred compensation arrangements, which can result in undue delay and manipulation from the government's perspective. In addition, high levels of executive compensation in the nonprofit sector are a red flag area for violations of the private inurement prohibition applicable to tax-exempt entities. See 26 C.F.R. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(2). Consequently, special rules were developed to stem the potential for abuse."