Charity Fundraising Hacks: Turning Old Coins into Real Income

Charities across the UK are always searching for new and innovative ways to raise funds. With so many organisations competing for donations, finding a unique approach can make all the difference. One of the most overlooked – yet highly effective – methods is collecting old, foreign, and unwanted coins and banknotes.

At Cash4Coins, we’ve helped hundreds of charities turn forgotten currency into real, usable funds. From leftover holiday money to pre-decimal coins and demonetised banknotes, these forgotten treasures can quickly add up to thousands of pounds when processed correctly.

This guide will show you how to maximise the value of old coins for fundraising, why it works so well, and how your charity can get started today.

Why Old Coins Are a Hidden Goldmine for Charities

• Everyone has them: Nearly every household in the UK has a jar, drawer, or box filled with leftover foreign coins, obsolete currency, or damaged notes.

• They’re forgotten money: Because banks won’t take foreign coins (and most people don’t know what to do with them), they’re often left untouched for years.

• Donors are happy to give them away: Unlike cash donations, people feel no “loss” when donating coins they can’t use anyway. This makes them incredibly easy to collect.

• It scales fast: A handful of coins may not be much, but when your supporters, schools, businesses, and local communities pool together, it can add up to significant fundraising totals.

How Cash4Coins Helps Charities

We provide a simple, fast, and secure service that turns mixed, old, or foreign coins and banknotes into usable funds. Here’s how it works:

1. Collect Coins & Notes

   Your charity sets up collection points – at offices, schools, retail partners, or events.

2. Send or Arrange Collection

   We offer free or subsidised collection options, depending on the volume. No need to pre-sort.

3. Sorting & Counting

   We handle the entire process – separating foreign, damaged, and old coins from usable currency.

4. Transparent Reporting

   You receive a full breakdown of what was collected and exchanged.

5. Fast Payment

   Funds are transferred directly to your charity’s bank account – ready to use for your mission.

Comparison Table: Traditional Donations vs. Coin Collections

Factor	Traditional Cash Donations	Old & Foreign Coin Collections
Ease of Giving	Donors part with usable money (harder in cost-of-living crisis).	Donors happily give unused or worthless coins.
Volume Potential	Limited to immediate donor willingness.	Huge potential – most households already have coins lying around.
Scalability	Requires repeated asks for cash.	Once set up, donations keep flowing (holiday money, drawer coins).
PR Value	Standard fundraising appeal.	Unique, creative campaign – easy to promote via media and social.
Partnership Opportunities	More difficult to involve businesses.	Retailers, schools, and offices love supporting coin collections.

Charity Fundraising Hacks with Old Coins

Here are tried-and-tested ways to turn coin collections into serious fundraising success:

1. Set Up Permanent Collection Points

• Place branded coin collection boxes in schools, offices, supermarkets, and community hubs.

• Work with local businesses who will happily host a collection tin.

2. Holiday Money Amnesty

• Run seasonal campaigns (e.g., after summer holidays or Christmas).

• Ask supporters to donate leftover foreign coins instead of letting them gather dust.

3. Event-Based Collections

• Music festivals, charity walks, sports fixtures – great opportunities to gather coins.

• Position collection points at entrances, exits, and refreshment areas.

4. Partner with Airlines & Travel Companies

• Many passengers return with leftover coins. Partnering with travel providers can give your charity regular inflows.

5. Corporate CSR Partnerships

• Companies can encourage staff to donate foreign coins as part of their CSR programmes.

• This boosts staff engagement and aligns with sustainability (recycling coins rather than waste).

6. Schools & Community Challenges

• Encourage children to collect coins from friends and family.

• Create friendly competitions between classes, year groups, or local schools.

How Much Could Your Charity Raise?

Here’s an example of typical collections:

Source	Average Collection	Potential Annual Value
Local Primary School	£150 per term	£450 per year
Small Business CSR Drive	£300	£1,200 per year
Community Event (e.g. fair)	£500	£2,000+ per year
Large Retail Chain Partnership	£10,000 per quarter	£40,000 per year

Even small campaigns can add up fast – and with Cash4Coins handling the heavy lifting, your team can focus on spreading the word, not sorting the coins.

FAQs: Exchanging Coins for Charity

Q: Can we send mixed coins and notes?

A: Yes. There’s no need to separate – just send everything together.

Q: Do you accept damaged coins and notes?

A: Absolutely. We specialise in exchanging coins that banks and other providers won’t touch.

Q: How quickly do we get paid?

A: Once we receive your coins, payment is processed quickly – often within a few working days.

Q: Do you charge a fee for the service?

A: No, the exchange rate we offer you is exactly what you’ll receive.

Q: Do you provide promotional support?

A: Yes – we can help with posters, ideas, and advice to make your fundraising campaign a success.

Why Choose Cash4Coins for Charity Fundraising?

• Trusted by leading UK charities.

• Secure & compliant with UK financial regulations.

• Fast turnaround – from collection to cleared funds.

• All currencies accepted – old, foreign, damaged, demonetised, or pre-decimal.

• Scalable – whether you’re a small local group or a national charity.

Take Action Today

Your supporters already have a hidden donation box sitting in their homes – jars and drawers filled with coins they’ll never use. By tapping into this forgotten currency, your charity can unlock new fundraising income without asking donors for more money out of their pocket.

👉 Get started with Cash4Coins today and discover just how much value is hiding in those old coins and notes.