Crossword Genius

Fund-raiser with no merriment contrived formal introduction (4,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dear sir

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'formal introduction' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'fund-raiser with no merriment contrived' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
an anagram of 'raiser' is 'earsir' which is within the answer.
A single letter 'd' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dear sir that I've seen before include "Conventional opening address to male recipient of letter" , "Conventional letter opening to man" , "Conventional opening words of letter to male" , "Form of address" , "Opening words of formal letter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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