Translation guide
A fundraising campaign is an organized effort to collect money for a specific cause, project, or organization. In Japanese, the most common and natural way to express this depends on the context: whether it's a formal drive, a charity event, a political campaign, or a grassroots effort.
募金活動
fundraising campaign (general)
政治資金パーティー
political fundraising event
クラウドファンディング
crowdfunding campaign
A broad, organized effort to raise funds, often for charity, disaster relief, or a specific project.
The most common and neutral term for a fundraising campaign or donation drive. It literally means 'donation-raising activity' and is used for everything from street collections to online campaigns.
赤十字が大規模な募金活動を始めた。
The Red Cross launched a large-scale fundraising campaign.
学校で被災地のための募金活動を行っています。
We are running a fundraising campaign at school for the disaster-stricken area.
A more business-like term, often used for startups, projects, or corporate fundraising. '資金調達' means 'fundraising/financing' and 'キャンペーン' is 'campaign'.
新製品開発のための資金調達キャンペーンをクラウドファンディングで実施した。
We ran a fundraising campaign for new product development via crowdfunding.
Specifically a 'donation campaign', often used for charity or non-profit drives. '寄付' means 'donation'.
年末の寄付キャンペーンにご協力ください。
Please support our year-end donation campaign.
An effort to raise money for a political candidate, party, or cause.
The standard term for a political fundraising event, often a dinner or reception where supporters pay to attend. Literally 'political funds party'.
大臣の政治資金パーティーに多くの企業が参加した。
Many companies attended the minister's political fundraising party.
A more general term for 'election fundraising', often used in news reports. '選挙資金' means 'campaign funds' and '集め' means 'collecting'.
候補者は選挙資金集めに奔走している。
The candidate is busy with election fundraising.
An online campaign to raise funds from many people, typically via platforms like Kickstarter or Campfire.
The loanword 'crowdfunding' is widely understood and used in Japan. It can refer to the method or a specific campaign.
彼のプロジェクトはクラウドファンディングで目標額を達成した。
His project reached its funding goal through a crowdfunding campaign.
Explicitly 'crowdfunding campaign', used when you need to specify the campaign aspect.
新しいゲームのためのクラウドファンディングキャンペーンを開始します。
We are launching a crowdfunding campaign for a new game.
A campaign involving volunteers collecting money in public places or going door-to-door.
Specifically 'street fundraising', where volunteers stand in busy areas with donation boxes. Very common for charities.
週末に駅前で街頭募金を行います。
We will hold a street fundraising campaign in front of the station this weekend.
Door-to-door fundraising, less common now but still used by some organizations like the Red Cross.
赤十字の戸別募金に協力した。
I contributed to the Red Cross door-to-door fundraising campaign.
募金活動 (bokin katsudō) is the go-to phrase for charitable or public donation drives. 資金調達キャンペーン (shikin chōtatsu campaign) sounds more corporate or entrepreneurial, like raising investment. Use 募金活動 for most non-profit contexts.
被災地支援の募金活動
fundraising campaign for disaster relief
スタートアップの資金調達キャンペーン
startup fundraising campaign
In Japanese, the word キャンペーン is often used for sales promotions or marketing campaigns. For fundraising, it's more natural to use 募金活動 or simply 募金 unless you specifically mean a time-limited promotional drive. Saying ファンドレイジングキャンペーン is understood but sounds like marketing jargon.
募金活動を始めました。
We started a fundraising campaign.
新しい病院のために募金活動を組織した。
They organized a fundraising campaign for the new hospital.
その政治資金パーティーで数百万円が集まった。
The political fundraising campaign raised millions of yen.
私たちのクラウドファンディングは成功した。
Our crowdfunding campaign was a success.