'fundraising' originates from English, specifically formed from the compound 'fundraise' (fund + raise), where 'fund' meant 'a sum of money set aside for a purpose' and 'raise' meant 'to lift up or to collect'.

'fundraising' developed from the older phrase 'to raise funds' and the compound verb 'fund-raise'; over time the noun/adjective form 'fundraising' became standard for referring to the activity or events dedicated to collecting money.

Initially it referred to the action 'to raise funds' (collecting money); over time the word broadened into a standalone noun/adjective meaning 'the activity or events of collecting money'.