when several people give some of the total money needed► contribute to give some of the money that is needed to pay for something: contribute to: · I'd like to thank all of you who contributed to the hospital appeal.contribute something to/towards something: · My parents said they would contribute something towards the cost of my driving lessons.
► make a contribution to give an amount of money that when added to money given by other people, can be used to pay for something useful: · If we all make a contribution, we'll be able to get him something really nice.make a contribution to/towards: · Several local businesses have made contributions towards our new school bus.
► have a collection to collect money from each of the people in a group, especially in order to buy something for someone: · They had a collection at the bar and they raised over $80.have a collection for: · We're having a collection for Jane's birthday present.
► chip in informal if everyone in a group chips in an amount of money, they each give an amount so that they can pay for something together: · We all chipped in to pay for the food and wine.· When Mona retired, all her co-workers chipped in and bought her a lovely dinner service. chip in with: · Electronics firm Compol chipped in with over $20,000.
► pay/give towards British /give toward something American to give part of the money needed to pay for something: pay/give something towards something: · I don't mind paying something towards Samantha's wedding present.· She feels it's partly her fault the TV's broken, so she's ready to pay $50 toward a new one.pay/give towards something: · Although students receive government grants, parents are still expected to pay towards living costs.
► have a whip-round British informal if a group of people have a whip-round , everyone in the group immediately gives some money in order to buy something with the total amount that is collected: · It's Sally's birthday tomorrow. We'd better have a whip-round so we can get her a present.
have a whip-round British English informal if a group of people have a whip-round, they all give some money so that they can buy something together: 
We had a whip-round to pay for a taxi to the railway station.