Why? Sure, patio11 himself benefits from the software, indirectly, when he pays himself salary. And the software he uses, in part, helps ensure that salary. How

Why? Sure, patio11 himself benefits from the software, indirectly, when he pays himself salary. And the software he uses, in part, helps ensure that salary. However, the company "needs" the software more. If the project shuttered tomorrow, that would be an existential threat to Appointment Reminder (patio11's business) but wouldn't be such a threat to Patrick. There is also the tax benefit. A 1000 dollar donation (or software license purchase) would only be ~700 assuming that Patrick still wanted to make the same donation with the same effect on his personal spending power.