Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US black/campus) money.

1890		Bird o’ Freedom 8 Jan. 1/2: The Jerker had been ordered champagne and oysters by the doctor, but being out of funds, and nothing remaining to appease ‘Uncle,’ he did the next best thing possible by taking on ginger-beer and whelks.
1900		‘Doss Chiderdoss’ ‘In-and-out Running’ Sporting Times 17 Feb. 1/4: Just now the exchequer’s not great ; / Till my aunt comes my funds are, it grieves me to state, / Just out.
1908		‘Doss Chiderdoss’ ‘When They Sigh’ Sporting Times 15 Feb. 1/3: Then, as funds were fairly flush, he hailed a cab, and drove away / To forget the judge’s wisdom in a visit to the play.
1917		‘A-No. 1’ From Coast to Coast with Jack London 82: He had wearily listened to our explanation how it came to pass that we were strapped of funds.
1923		N. Anderson Hobo 134: The only sober moments for many hobos and tramps are when they are without funds.
1966		J. Mills Panic in Needle Park (1971) 179: [He] HAS BEEN SENDING ME A LITTLE CASH, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO REALLY HELP OUT. HE IS AFRAID I WILL ACCUMULATE ENOUGH TO LEAVE HERE. I REALLY WISH HE WOULDN’T INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE SO. IF I WANTED TO LEAVE HERE A THING LIKE ‘NECESSARY FUNDS’ WOULDN’T STOP ME.
1982		Eble Campus Sl. Fall 2: funds – money.
1993		Source July 58: They wouldn’t give us any funds to do a video.
2002		‘Touré’ Portable Promised Land (ms.) 154: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Funds. Lucci. Cheddar. Duckets. Benjamins. Dead Presidents.