The invention relates to an alloy powder for an inorganic functional raw material and a phosphor. Provided are the alloy powder which is a raw material for producing the inorganic functional material such as the phosphor, the phosphor exhibiting high brightness, and methods for production thereof. The alloy powder comprises at least one metal element and at least one activating element M<1> and has a weight median diameter (D50) of 5 mum to 40 mum. The method for producing a phosphor is characterized in that it includes a step of heating an alloy containing two or more metal elements constituting the phosphor in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere.