1. a fundraising event in which volunteers make telephone calls to solicit donations, typically for a charitable organization or educational institution
Usage: commonly used in North American English; often associated with colleges, universities, and nonprofits

Examples

• The university held its annual phonathon to raise money for student scholarships.
• Alumni volunteers participated in the phonathon, calling graduates to request donations.
• During the phonathon, the nonprofit exceeded its fundraising goal by 20 percent.
• Students worked evening shifts at the phonathon to support their school's endowment.
• The phonathon campaign lasted two weeks and involved hundreds of phone calls.
• Many donors appreciated the personal touch of the phonathon compared to impersonal mail solicitations.