10 Latin words that fundraisers use every day
Howard Lake | 16 September 2014 | Blogs
The launch of the fundraising think tank Rogare this year reminds us that Latin words underpin many aspects of fundraising. ‘Rogare’ means ‘to ask’, from ‘rogo’ meaning ‘I ask’. Rogo, rogare, rogavi, rogatum, for those that learned first conjugation Latin verbs.
Here are 10 Latin words whose modern English derivations are still used every day in fundraising.
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1. Dono
From which we derive ‘donor’, ‘one who gives’. Note the sense of ‘to sacrifice’ – some charities emphasise this element more than others e.g. The Salvation Army’s ‘self denial’ fundraising campaigns, and the religious notion of tithing.
2. Benevolentia
Benevolence, benevolent societies.
3. Bonus
Meaning ‘good’, from which we get ‘pro bono’ – ‘for the [common] good’, or nowadays ‘donated professional advice and services’.
4. Caritas
From which we derive ‘charity’. I like the meaning of ‘dearness, high price’: charity is indeed valuable.
5. Debitor
A debtor, from which we get ‘direct debit’, the lifeblood of regular giving that sustains many charities.
6. Donatio
Note that the noun from which ‘donation’ derives comes from the verb dono (see 1. above), to grant or present.
7. Humanitas
More commonly ‘humanity’ but notice how ‘kindness’ and philanthropy’ are alternative definitions. Philanthropy is humanity.
8. Legatus
A legacy or bequest. The word ‘legator’ is still in use today in many charities’ will packs or promotions.
9. Lego
No, not the Danish toy company, but the verb meaning ‘I bequeath’.
10. Maior (or major)
The comparative of magnus (or ‘great, large’). It is the word which we use now in ‘major gift’ or ‘major donor’. Despite a few huge charitable donations we haven’t yet started using the phrase ‘maximum gift’.
11. Data
And as a bonus word, let’s end with ‘data’, which underpins many successful fundraising appeals and will drive very many more.
It comes, so appropriately for fundraisers, from ‘do’ meaning “to give, offer”. It is the plural of ‘datum’, meaning ‘something given’.
- Words that help and hinder fundraising efforts on online giving sites revealed (10 December 2019)
- ‘Data is’ or ‘data are’? The FT has a comment (14 February 2023)
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.