fundraiser

noun

fund·​rais·​er ˈfənd-ˌrā-zər How to pronounce fundraiser (audio)
variants or less commonly fund-raiser
plural fundraisers also fund-raisers
1
: a person employed to raise funds (as for an institution or political cause)
a talented fundraiser
… hired not only for his popularity with the other scientists but for his proven abilities as a fundraiser.James Shreeve
2
: a social event (such as a cocktail party) held for the purpose of raising funds
… he gained recognition by throwing a posh fundraiser for President Jimmy Carter.James Ridgeway

Examples of fundraiser in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Howl at hootenanny Ozark Natural Science Center presents the annual Bear Hollow Hootenanny fundraiser Saturday and Sunday at the center's main campus north of Huntsville adjacent to the Madison County Wildlife Management Area. Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2025 Fligor is the second-biggest fundraiser, with a haul of $259,286 that includes a $97,000 personal loan. Grace Hase, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025 Parlow, a Los Angeles native and Yale-educated lawyer, previously served as the university’s law school dean and chief fundraiser. Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025 The band most recently reunited for a pair of Coachella shows in 2024 as well as at the FIREAID wildfire fundraiser earlier this year. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025 The activism on the teachers’ behalf continued Friday at the Phoebe Hearst Jog-A-Thon fundraiser, where dozens of sixth-grade students bore flash tattoos and signs in support of both Rupert and Henrikson. Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2025 Her family has started a fundraiser for medical assistance. Stephanie Stremplewski, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025 The pumpkin patch is the nonprofit's primary fundraiser and is operated by hundreds of volunteers. Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Oct. 2025 The event is a fundraiser for Scout Troop 2000. Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fundraiser was in 1881

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fundraiser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fundraiser. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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