Compensating Musicians Legally

Can we create a designated account to supplement an employee's pay?

Question:
Due to the difficult financial times we are in, we have had to scale back, or drop completely, many items in our budget. In the past, our accompanists have been paid per service, but we are no longer able to provide as much as in previous years. Is it legal to set up a 'Designated Account' for this? Is this a tax deductible donation?