清嘉庆时期，温州地区开始比较集中地以民间集资的方式建立用于资助乡试旅费的宾兴款，至清末科举废除之前，形成了一个分布于县—乡镇两级的宾兴款体系。一些下层士绅借助宾兴款募捐和日常管理，获得了参与地方公共事务管理的机会，同时，也获得了对于宾兴款的实际控制权。以宾兴款为代表的教育公产成为他们处理地方事务可资调度的资源，为他们获取权力提供了物质基础。这在太平天国运动时期，抵御金钱会攻城时表现的相当明显。太平天国运动以后，伴随着宾兴款项向乡镇一级的推广，更多下层士绅参与募款和管理工作，从而为他们日后在基层的活跃打开了方便之门。

The Binxing ( with the literal meaning of talent selection) Funds, which imbursed the trips to the imperial examination at the provincial level were largely established in the form of civil financing in Wenzhou during the reign of Emperor Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty. A system of Binxing Funds had come into being at the level of town and county before the imperial examination was abolished in the late Qing Dynasty. Some lower gentry got a chance to take part in local public affairs by collecting donations of Binxing Funds and engaging in their daily management. They also won the real control of the funds. Educational public property represented by Binxing Funds served as governable resources for the gentry in handling local affairs and provided a material base for them to get power, which was well demonstrated in resisting the attack of Jinqian Association during Taiping Movement. After Taiping Movement, with the expansion of Binxing Funds to towns, more lower gentry took part in donation collecting and management, which brought convenience to their active participation in local social administrations afterwards.