There are tax loopholes that are probably bad for society (e.g. buy, borrow, die), but charitable donations like this one are probably a net win. Having the opt

There are tax loopholes that are probably bad for society (e.g. buy, borrow, die), but charitable donations like this one are probably a net win. Having the option to make such donations incentivizes them over doing something else (potentially something else non-taxable) with the assets, and charities are often (but not always) more effective than governments at accomplishing things that benefit society.