It’s more accurate to say that intent matters. So transactions that exist only to change the source of money but have no economic effect on the intent of the tr

It’s more accurate to say that intent matters. So transactions that exist only to change the source of money but have no economic effect on the intent of the transaction can be disregarded. But in this case the intent of the act was very clearly to create a charitable act. So it’s the same principle you’re suggesting but with the precise opposite conclusion. Ultimately a charity was the source of the economic activity, and “laundering” it through the debt buyer did not make it less charitable.