EPExemptPay.com

Your 990 is public. Your compensation rationale should be too.

Someone saw your Form 990. The number is out there without context. ExemptPay generates a report that puts your compensation in context — showing where executive pay sits relative to comparable nonprofits by budget size, geography, and mission area.

Reports start at $149. Minutes, not weeks.

Generate My Board Confidence ReportOr explore benchmarks for free
Built on the same IRS Form 990 data that's already public
Shows where your pay sits in the market band — not just a number
If aligned, documents that alignment with peer benchmarks
If above market, provides structured rationale language for your board
Ready to share with donors, reporters, or board members in minutes

How It Works

Step 1

Enter your details

Title, total compensation, state, and budget size

Step 2

We find your peers

Matched against 3.27M compensation records from IRS Form 990 filings

Step 3

Get your report

Board-ready PDF with benchmarks, variance analysis, and discussion language

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone see nonprofit executive compensation on Form 990?

Yes. Form 990 is public. Sites like ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer and GuideStar make them searchable online. Anyone can look up what a nonprofit's executives are paid.

What should I do if a donor questions our executive compensation?

Respond with transparency and data. Having a Board Confidence Report on file means you can share comparability data, peer group criteria, and board rationale immediately.

Is high nonprofit executive pay illegal?

Not inherently. The standard is "reasonable" — comparable to similar organizations. However, "excess" compensation can trigger intermediate sanctions: 25% excise tax on the executive, potentially 20% on approving board members.

How do journalists and watchdog groups evaluate nonprofit pay?

They compare executive pay to budget, revenue, or peers. Without context, a six-figure salary at a small nonprofit generates negative headlines even if market-rate. Documented peer comparisons provide the missing context.

Should we generate a report even if no one has questioned our compensation yet?

Yes — that's actually the ideal time. The IRS rebuttable presumption requires documentation contemporaneous with the compensation decision, not after a challenge. Organizations that benchmark annually and keep a current report on file are in the strongest possible position. If a donor, reporter, or board member ever raises the question, you already have the answer.

Related Resources