# A collective noun for fundraisers?

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/07/09/collective-noun-fundraisers/
- Published: 2009-07-09T12:11:01+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**What is the collective noun for fundraisers? There isn’t one of course, but that
leaves the field open for us to come up with one.**

The issue has just sparked into life on Twitter with a group of charity sector staff
suggesting possible terms.

So far we’ve come up with:

## Advertisement

∙ a gift

∙ a nuisance

∙ a rabble

∙ an ask

∙ a storytelling

∙ a commitment

∙ a relationship

∙ a passion

∙ a finery

∙ a convention [topical given we’ve just had the National Convention here in the
UK]

I also suggested a Sumption, Stringer or Kirkley of Fundraisers, nods to our profession’s
past. That said, the majority of fundraisers in the UK are women.

![A woman's face made up from hundreds of tiny people. Photo: Tai11 on Shutterstock.
com](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/09/womans-face-crowd-shutterstock-
tai11.jpg)

Photo: Tai11 on Shutterstock.com

With thanks to [@AmandaSanter](http://twitter.com/amandasanter)[, @causeperfect](https://twitter.com/causeperfect),
and [@derekhumphries](http://twitter.com/derekhumphries).

The conversation did then move onto a collective name for consultants, but I think
I’ll draw a veil over that…

Can you come up with anything better as a collective noun for fundraisers?

 * **[Collective noun animal posters to raise funds for WWF UK](https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/10/24/collective-noun-animal-posters-raise-funds-wwf-uk/)(
   24 October 2013)**

## Comments

### By: FinbarCullen

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/07/09/collective-noun-fundraisers/#comment-3730
- Published: 2009-07-10T14:47:42+01:00

At a recent IoF Yorkshire meeting I attended, someone suggested a collection of 
fundraisers (of course)

 Finbar Cullen
 Research**Plus**

### By: johnthompson

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/07/09/collective-noun-fundraisers/#comment-3731
- Published: 2009-07-14T15:19:11+01:00

In these recessionary times perhaps a collective noun for fundraisers might be:

A worry of
 An angst of A hope of

And as for group of consultants? How about:

A discount of
 A disagreement of A merger of

### By: adriansalmon

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/07/09/collective-noun-fundraisers/#comment-3732
- Published: 2009-07-14T15:53:31+01:00

..and so I think it should be a projection of fundraisers

or maybe an engagement of fundraisers?

 Adrian Salmon
 Annual Fund Manager University of Leeds

### By: TreNightingale

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/07/09/collective-noun-fundraisers/#comment-3733
- Published: 2009-07-16T08:42:37+01:00

A vision of fundraisers!

### By: rwilson

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/07/09/collective-noun-fundraisers/#comment-3734
- Published: 2009-07-16T09:58:46+01:00

.