Did they have a lot of goodwill attached to their company? What did that give them?
Because of that framing, they poached a lot of very good talent and built one of the best AI teams that has ever been assembled. Then they perverted their corporate structure to be effective for-profit, and renegaded on open access to their trained models, turning into a bog standard service-oriented company.
What difference does it make for a non-public company? They can pay themselves more salary either way. The shares aren't really valuable until then.
As to a charity - if you really believe so. It doesn't even enter the books. Have you not seen an in-person donation site? Someone gives $100, the staff keeps the $100, takes out $50, records $50 and puts that in the donation box. After a few more layers the actual donation could be just $1. I've seen these at your regular big name charities - all the time.
And let's not get started on the sponsor a child that doesn't exist options...