To fund something means to provide the money needed to make it happen. When a city funds a new library, it pays for the construction and operation. When parents fund their child's summer camp, they cover the cost. A business might fund research into new products, or a school district might fund art programs.

Without funding, even the best ideas often can't become reality.

Fund can also be a noun meaning a pool of money set aside for a specific purpose. A college fund is money saved for education. An emergency fund helps families handle unexpected expenses. Museums and charities create funds to support their work. When people donate to these funds, they're helping to fund important causes.

You might hear someone say a project is well-funded (has plenty of money) or underfunded (doesn't have enough). The person or organization providing the money is called a funder. Governments, foundations, and individuals can all be funders of projects they believe in. When you save your allowance to buy something you want, you're funding your own goal.