fund-raising

fund-raising — verb

  • fund-raisingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • fund-raisings3rd person singular
  • fund-raisinging-ing form
  • fund-raisingedpast simple

1. to take part in activities that ask people or organizations to give money for a

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to take part in activities that ask people or organizations to give money for a charity, school, political effort, or other purpose

Example

The school's parent group spent the whole semester fund-raising for new library books.

fund-raise + for + [beneficiary/purpose]

Kenji and his teammates are fund-raising to cover their travel costs for the national science competition.

fund-raise + to-infinitive [purpose clause]

Common collocations
  • fund-raise for a cause
  • fund-raise on behalf of
  • fund-raise door-to-door
  • fund-raise online
Synonyms
  • solicit

    more formal, often used by professional organizations

  • canvass

    usually means going door-to-door or calling individuals to ask for donations

Antonyms
  • donate

    fund-raisers ask for money; donors give money

Grammar Patterns

fund-raise + for + [cause/group]

Usage Note

This sense emphasizes the process and effort of organizing fundraising activities. Frequently used with 'for' to name the cause or group that will receive the money.

Common Mistakes

The charity fundraising for clean water.
The charity is fund-raising for clean water.
'Fund-raise' is a verb and needs an auxiliary or tense marker; 'fundraising' is a noun or adjective.

2. to succeed in getting a particular amount of money by asking people or organizat

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to succeed in getting a particular amount of money by asking people or organizations to donate

Example

The museum's annual gala fund-raised over two million dollars from art collectors across Asia.

fund-raise + [amount of money] + from [source]

Gabriel's running group fund-raised enough money to build three new classrooms at the local primary school.

Common collocations
  • fund-raise a total of
  • fund-raise enough to
  • fund-raise money for
  • fund-raise funds
Synonyms
  • raise

    shorter and more general, used in everyday speech without the fundraising-specific framing

Grammar Patterns

fund-raise + [amount of money]

Usage Note

This sense emphasizes achieving a financial target. The object is typically a sum of money or a funding goal, not the cause itself.

Common Mistakes

They fund-raised the hospital.
They fund-raised money for the hospital.
The object of this sense is the money raised, not the beneficiary.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Fund-raise' focuses on the broad, organized effort to collect money for a cause — anyone from a school PTA to a large charity can do it. 'Solicit' is more formal and implies a direct request, often from businesses or wealthy individuals, and can sound transactional. 'Canvass' means going door-to-door or making phone calls to ask for donations or support, so it describes a specific method of fund-raising rather than the whole campaign. 'Appeal' means making a public, emotional call for donations, often through media or a letter, and may be a one-time effort rather than an ongoing activity. For example, a charity might canvass a neighborhood one weekend, appeal to the public through a TV commercial, and solicit large donors directly — all as part of fund-raising for a new hospital wing.

solicit ↗canvass ↗appeal ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • fund-raise for a cause
  • fund-raise on behalf of
  • fund-raise door-to-door
  • fund-raise online

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld NorseEnglish

'Fund-raising' combines 'fund' (from Latin 'fundus', meaning 'bottom' or 'foundation', later coming to mean 'a supply of money') with 'raising' (from Old Norse 'reisa', meaning 'to lift up'). The compound emerged in the early 20th century as organized charity work became more structured. Originally used as a noun ('fund-raising'), it was later adapted as a verb ('fund-raise') through back-formation.

First known use

1956

1956, in the meaning defined at sense 1