Section 54.15. Creation of trust a public purpose

It is hereby found,
  determined and declared that the creation of the trust and the  carrying
  out  of its corporate purposes is in all respects for the benefit of the
  people of the state of New York, for the preservation,  improvement  and
  promotion of the executive mansion as a historical and cultural resource
  of  the  state  of  New York, and is a public purpose, in that the trust
  will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of
  the powers conferred upon it by this title and the trust  shall  not  be
  required  to  pay taxes or assessments upon any of the property acquired
  by it or under its jurisdiction and control, or upon its  activities  in
  the  operation  and maintenance of such properties or use of any moneys,
  revenues or other income received by the trusts. All contributions  made
  to  the  trust  whether  by  gift,  devise  or  bequest shall qualify as
  deductions in computing the net taxable income  of  the  donor  for  the
  purposes  of  any  income  tax  imposed  by  the  state or any political
  subdivision thereof. The trust  is  authorized  to  seek  exemption  for
  federal tax purposes.