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.
The fundraiser supports the nonprofit’s food and rental assistance programs for residents of Saratoga and other West Valley communities. Debby Rice, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026 The director came to Atlanta in the fall of 2024 to host a fundraiser for Hurricane Helene victims at the Variety Playhouse. Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 24 Feb. 2026 In the meantime, In-N-Out Burger owner Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson used the Palladium for a rock-and-roll fundraiser. Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026 The show will also double as a fundraiser for several local groups and mutual aid efforts, including rent support, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Show Up for Eat Street, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, and the South Minneapolis Families Fund. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2026 Now in its 16th year, the DCC has grown to become the largest annual fundraiser in the NFL; tens of thousands have run, walked or ridden bikes in support of the mission. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026 As gala-watchers know, the big party is not only a fundraiser for the institute — a self-funding department — but a launchpad for the annual spring fashion exhibit. ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026 GoFundMe, which allows third parties to create campaigns, routinely reviews fundraisers to verify organizers and beneficiaries before releasing funds. Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 23 Feb. 2026 The Costume Institute puts on the party each year as a fundraiser. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026

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 25 Feb. 2026.

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