Fundraise

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈfʌndˌɹeɪz/

Definitions

1. The action of seeking donations from individuals or groups to support a particular initiative or cause involves engaging those willing to provide financial assistance
2. The process of obtaining financial support through donations or sponsorship from individuals or entities for a specific project or cause involves proactive outreach
3. To actively gather funds by requesting monetary contributions to support an organized effort or project

Etymology: Fundraise is a compound of "fund" and "raise," but the verb is younger than its parts suggest. The more established noun "fundraising" came first, and "fundraise" appears to have been back-formed from it, meaning it was created by stripping the "-ing" from the noun and treating the remainder as a verb. English speakers do this often, and it is a reason the verb can feel like a modern invention even though its components are old. "Fund" comes from the Latin "fundus," meaning bottom or foundation, which later came to mean an endowed sum of money held as a base for something. "Raise" carries the sense of lifting or bringing up, here applied to gathering money from people. Put together, the two words describe the act of lifting a sum of money into being, a neat picture for asking many people to contribute.

Synonyms: raise funds, collect donations, solicit funds, gather funds, sponsor