Sorry, I won't believe any politician's words. What your friend said to you is also a way to become philanthropist in public's eyes but actually doing stealing behind the scene and filling own bank accounts. These corrupts want to look good in public and that is what maybe your friend's words forced you to write and to take your support from here.
It will be hard to believe any politician in today's world unless they work on the money they take, if they don't, they are just like the people who steal for their benefit. Op may be correct, though, as there are still decent politicians who put the needs of their voters first. Op claimed that because his friend vowed he would never use the stolen money for his expenses, he created an organization with illegal funds to build schools and provide scholarships. But since politics is full of people who aren't sure they care about the homeless, I do have the feeling that his friend isn't utilizing all the illegal funds to help the poor.
No it is not right. No matter how anyone tries to argue it, stealing is stealing whether to help the poor or to keep it for yourself. It is not moral.
Yes, stealing is stealing, whether it's to help the poor or to keep for themselves, but I don't think that it's wrong when politicians steal to help the poor because they are scarce in this world, most of them only steal to add to their own pockets and have no concern what happens to the poor who are suffering because they don't have good jobs that will pay well. Since politicians never fulfill their promise, to be honest, I can even offer prayers for someone who steals to help those who are struggling.