community chest

American  

noun

1. a fund for local welfare activities, built up by voluntary contributions.

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community chest British  

noun

1. a fund raised by voluntary contribution for local welfare activities

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Etymology

Origin of community chest

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Example Sentences

In the Hull version of Monopoly, Mrs Bishop is recognised on a community chest card, a nod to her charity work.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2021

The organization of a community chest campaign is usually a fairly cut-&-dried matter.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hence the community chest, now operative in about 350 U. S. cities and towns.

From Time Magazine Archive

In the pre-Per�n era, Do�a Mar�a was a perennial president of Argentina's Sociedad de Beneficencia, a sort of community chest which supported most of the nation's hospitals, homes for the aged and orphan asylums.

From Time Magazine Archive

Still, the fact that some people would so eagerly take software from the community chest, alter it, and slap a new name on the resulting software displayed a stunning lack of courtesy.

From Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade for Free Software by Williams, Sam