Charities: Turn Foreign & Old Coins into Donations

The Fundraising Goldmine Hiding in Plain Sight: Why Charities Should Accept Foreign and Old Coins

Every charity wants to raise more — but sometimes, the best fundraising opportunities are sitting right in front of us, unnoticed.

If your charity already collects spare change through donation tins or collection buckets, here’s a secret: you could be missing out on hundreds, even thousands of pounds every year — all because of coins and notes that never make it to the bank.

Welcome to the world of foreign currency fundraising — a low-effort, high-impact income stream that’s transforming how UK charities raise funds.

The Problem: “Unbankable” Coins Are Everywhere

It’s a familiar sight: a handful of euros in the bottom of a handbag, a few US quarters in the car, or a wallet full of leftover currency from a family trip.

Multiply that by millions of travellers — and you get an eye-watering figure:

💷 Over £500 million worth of foreign and old coins sitting idle in UK homes.

And guess what?

Most people would happily donate those coins to charity — if they knew where to take them.

That’s where your charity can make a difference.

The Simple Idea with Big Impact

Foreign and old coins are a completely untapped donation source.

People want to give them away, and charities can turn them into real cash through Cash4Coins.

It’s simple:

1️⃣ Supporters donate their leftover holiday currency.

2️⃣ Your charity sends it to Cash4Coins using our Freepost or courier service.

3️⃣ We sort, count, and exchange everything — including foreign coins, old £1 coins, and withdrawn banknotes.

4️⃣ You receive fast payment directly to your account.

No sorting. No hassle. Just extra funds from donations you’re already receiving.

Why Banks Can’t Help (and Why We Can)

Banks and building societies don’t accept coins in foreign or outdated currencies — even if they’re still legal tender abroad.

That means most of these donations end up gathering dust in back offices or being set aside “for later.”

Unfortunately, “later” never comes.

At Cash4Coins, we do what banks won’t:

✅ Accept all 180 active world currencies

✅ Accept over 400 obsolete currencies

✅ Accept old UK coins and notes

✅ Provide insured collections and full reporting

So even that jar of tarnished euros from a supporter’s garage can be turned into a meaningful donation.

Start Exchange

A Ready-Made Campaign: “Foreign Change for Change”

One of the easiest ways to promote this type of fundraising is with a simple campaign message:

“Donate your leftover holiday money — turn foreign change into real change.”

It’s instantly relatable, completely unique, and works brilliantly in:

• Newsletters and supporter emails

• Social media campaigns

• Workplace collection drives

• Local press features

• Retail partner donation boxes

You can even partner with local travel agents, airports, or offices to collect coins — many will happily display a branded tin if they know it supports a good cause.

Why This Works

Foreign coin fundraising has three key advantages:

Advantage	What It Means for Your Charity
It’s effortless	You’re already receiving these coins — now they have value.
It’s unique	Few charities are doing it, so it stands out.
It’s recurring	People travel every year — and always come home with coins.

Unlike bake sales, raffles, or events, this is passive fundraising — it runs itself once supporters know where to drop their coins.

Real Charities, Real Impact

Here’s what some of our partner charities have achieved:

• A hospice in Dorset raised £1,870 from a single year’s worth of foreign coin donations.

• A children’s charity in Manchester added £760 to their total from coins collected in workplace donation tins.

• A wildlife trust discovered over £500 in old European coins while clearing storage.

These weren’t new campaigns — just smart recycling of what was already there.

Good for the Planet, Too

Recycling foreign coins isn’t just about income — it’s also about sustainability.

Instead of sending coins to a landfill, Cash4Coins ensures that every item is recycled, repurposed, or returned to circulation.

That means your charity can proudly tell supporters they’re:

🌱 Reducing waste

💚 Supporting ethical fundraising

♻️ Helping the environment — one coin at a time

How to Get Started

Getting started is incredibly easy — and we’ll help at every step.

1️⃣ Contact us via Cash4Coins.co.uk

2️⃣ Request your free collection kit

3️⃣ Promote your campaign to supporters and businesses

4️⃣ Send your coins (via Freepost or insured courier)

5️⃣ Receive your payment directly into your charity’s account

It’s zero risk, zero stress — and 100% beneficial.

The Takeaway

Your charity is already trusted by supporters who want to help.

They have coins and notes they can’t spend — you have the cause they care about.

By simply saying “we accept foreign and old coins,” you can unlock a new income stream that’s:

• Sustainable

• Effort-free

• And waiting to be collected.

👉 Visit Cash4Coins.co.uk to learn how we help charities turn forgotten coins into valuable funding.

Cash4Coins – Turning spare change into real change.