Teenager Scores Matching Gift from Warren Buffet

Ruth McCambridge

February 3, 2012

February 2, 2012; Source: NorthbrookPatch | In Northbrook, Ill., 16-year-old Katie Murphy decided to do her part towards paying down the national debt with a donation of $300, and in a smart leveraging strategy, she approached the lofty Mr. Warren Buffet for a matching gift. Buffet responded by mail that he was willing. Murphy says that she got the idea when Buffet made a challenge to Republican lawmakers to donate some of their money to the national debt. At that time, he also offered to double their donations. Murphy decided she’d take him up on it.

It was, says the teen, 15 percent of her current wealth. This video is worth a watch.

–Ruth McCambridge

About the author

Ruth McCambridge

Ruth is Editor Emerita of the Nonprofit Quarterly. Her background includes forty-five years of experience in nonprofits, primarily in organizations that mix grassroots community work with policy change. Beginning in the mid-1980s, Ruth spent a decade at the Boston Foundation, developing and implementing capacity building programs and advocating for grantmaking attention to constituent involvement.

More about: Nonprofit News Philanthropy

Become a member

Support independent journalism and knowledge creation for civil society. Become a member of Nonprofit Quarterly.

Members receive unlimited access to our archived and upcoming digital content. NPQ is the leading journal in the nonprofit sector written by social change experts. Gain access to our exclusive library of online courses led by thought leaders and educators providing contextualized information to help nonprofit practitioners make sense of changing conditions and improve infra-structure in their organizations.

Join Today