Fund, Funding, or Fundings? What is the difference?

Vocabulary / By

When discussing financing operations, you will occasionally need to choose between the words “fund, funding, and fundings.” Between the three the first two will take place much more often. Your spell check software might even reject “fundings” but there is an occasion for each one.

For the first two, “fund and funding” there is a correct way to use both as either a noun or a verb. The context will control which word is used in which context.

Fund as a Noun

Both “fund” and “funding” refer to capital resources utilized to make projects function, whether a non-profit group sending supplies to at-risk people groups or Fortune 500 companies researching the next innovation in smartphones.

When the word “fund” is used, it is normally applied to a specific source of money used for a specific project. It will often be preceded by the word “the” and in many cases carry its own personality.

The CEO called a meeting because there was a problem with the fund.

The building and maintenance fund seems to be low this year.

Steve had a meeting from the office of the street and safety fund to request that new paving be put down this year.

Fund as a Verb

Fund is used to describe the application of money to a situation to either help or fully supply all material needs to the project at hand.

My scholarship will fund my entire degree from start to finish.

The board has agreed to fund her project until the year’s end to see if it can become self-sustaining.

Congress is seeking to fund a new project for light rails across the country.

Funding as a Noun

“Funding” is used more as a generic term for money that is either real or in the process of being collected. Once it is collected, it will often transition from “funding” to “fund.”

Our funding isn’t what it used to be.

The funding for the project seems to raise itself thanks to the urgency of the work.

The artist’s funding comes from a devotee of the museum.

Funding as a Verb

Much more straightforward in nuance, “funding” is simply the progressive verb form of “fund.”

My mom is funding my taco obsession.

The billionaire is funding the trip to Mars.

Fundings

Fundings, as mentioned earlier, will light up your spell check like a little red Christmas tree so be prepared. It is, however, appropriate to use on a rare occasion. It is used to describe multiple sources and multiple recipients of money all centralized with one theme in common.

The museum’s fundings came from seventeen different nations and ran four different shows curated by two artists.

Conor
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