The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word RESOURCES
R
E
S
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U
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S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "funds" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case funds = resources.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does RESOURCES mean?
RESOURCES noun- Something that one uses to achieve an objective, e.g. raw materials or personnel.
- A person's capacity to deal with difficulty.