community chests and councils of america: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/ProficientFormal, Historical, Institutional
Quick answer
What does “community chests and councils of america” mean?
A proper noun referring to a specific charitable foundation that later became a national federation of community-based fund-raising organizations in the United States.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun referring to a specific charitable foundation that later became a national federation of community-based fund-raising organizations in the United States.
Historically, a national charitable organization focused on community fundraising and social welfare, which evolved into what is now known as United Way. The term is also used more broadly to refer to its successor organizations and similar charitable community fund structures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, this is a known historical term and brand name. In British English, the term is not used; the concept would be described as 'community charities' or 'centralised charitable appeals', with specific organizations like 'Community Foundations' or 'Charities Aid Foundation' serving analogous roles.
Connotations
American: Historical, institutional, charitable, mid-20th century social welfare. British: N/A (unfamiliar term).
Frequency
The phrase is rare in contemporary use, primarily found in historical or philanthropic contexts in the US. It is virtually never used in modern UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “community chests and councils of america” in a Sentence
[The] Community Chests and Councils of America [verb: merged, evolved, became]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “community chests and councils of america” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- The Community-Chests-and-Councils model of fundraising was dominant for decades.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In corporate social responsibility history: 'Our company's annual giving program began with a pledge to the Community Chests and Councils of America.'
Academic
In philanthropic studies: 'The consolidation of local charities under the Community Chests and Councils of America model represented a shift towards systematic social giving.'
Everyday
Rare in everyday conversation, but an older person might recall: 'We used to donate through the Community Chest at work.'
Technical
In non-profit management history: 'The 1913 origin of Community Chests led to the formation of the national body Community Chests and Councils of America in 1918.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “community chests and councils of america”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “community chests and councils of america”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “community chests and councils of america”
- Using 'community chest' as a general term for any local fund (it is a specific historical brand).
- Treating it as a plural countable noun phrase in a general sense (e.g., 'Many community chests...' referring to the organization).
- Confusing it with the 'Community Chest' card in the game Monopoly.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical entity. It evolved and merged into what is now known as United Way Worldwide.
While it may be understood in context, it is technically a proper name. Using 'community fund' or 'local charity fund' is more accurate for general reference.
It was a specifically American organisation. The UK developed its own charitable structures, such as Community Foundations and the Charities Aid Foundation, with different names.
The 'Community Chest' card in Monopoly is a separate concept, named after the idea of a shared community fund, but it is not directly related to the historical organisation 'Community Chests and Councils of America'.
A proper noun referring to a specific charitable foundation that later became a national federation of community-based fund-raising organizations in the United States.
Community chests and councils of america is usually formal, historical, institutional in register.
Community chests and councils of america: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈmjuːnəti tʃɛsts ənd ˈkaʊnsɪlz ɒv əˈmɛrɪkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈmjunəti tʃɛsts ənd ˈkaʊnsəlz əv əˈmɛrɪkə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a treasure CHEST for the COMMUNITY, managed by a COUNCIL, across AMERICA. It's the old name for a united way to give.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNITY IS A SHARED TREASURE (CHEST). CHARITABLE GIVING IS POOLING RESOURCES.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Community Chests and Councils of America' best described as?