March 27, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
The resignation of Lawrence M. Small as head of the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, is bad news for charities, says Peter Brinckerhoff, author of the Mission-Based Management blog.
The departure of Mr. Small, who came under fire for using the institution’s money to pay for personal expenses, will most likely trigger renewed scrutiny of nonprofit compensation, the blogger says.
“Ugh. I get so sick of this. Some nonprofit executive excess makes the news and sure as the sun rises, the politicians will jump on a need to provide even more regulation for nonprofits,” he writes.
While the vast majority of nonprofit executives are underpaid, members of Congress only hear about examples like Mr. Small’s, which “just hardens the perspective of the policymakers that we’re all corrupt,” writes Mr. Brinckerhoff, a nonprofit consultant in Springfield, Ill.
What do you think? Will Mr. Small’s resignation lead to increased regulation of nonprofit pay — and should nonprofit groups face greater regulation? Click on the comment link just below this posting to share your views.
