A pledge drive is a fundraising campaign, typically held by charities or non-profit organizations. There are a number of synonyms that can be used to describe this type of event, highlighting the different aspects of the fundraising effort. A donation campaign is a general term, often used to describe any kind of fundraising effort. A telethon involves a live broadcast on television or radio, often featuring celebrities, to encourage donations. A fundraiser is an event or activity designed to raise money for a particular cause. A donation marathon is similar to a telethon, but usually lasts for an extended period of time. Ultimately, all of these terms refer to efforts to gather support, both financial and otherwise, for a particular organization or cause.