Foreign Coin Fundraising for Cancer Charities

How Cancer Charities Can Raise Thousands from Foreign Coin Donations

When it comes to fundraising, cancer charities are always looking for creative, low-cost ways to boost donations.

Yet one of the most powerful — and often overlooked — opportunities is sitting quietly in homes, offices, and purses across the UK: foreign coins and banknotes.

With an estimated £500 million in unused foreign currency gathering dust in drawers, this untapped resource can generate meaningful, sustainable funding for cancer research, treatment, and support.

At Cash4Coins, we help cancer charities turn that potential into real, measurable income — all with minimal effort and zero upfront cost.

💡 Why Foreign Coin Fundraising Works So Well

Foreign coin collections offer several unique benefits that make them ideal for cancer charities:

Benefit	Why It Matters
Simple to run	No need for staff training or special equipment
No donor cost	Supporters can give without spending new money
High engagement	Everyone has leftover coins at home
Eco-friendly	Coins are repurposed and recycled sustainably
Year-round appeal	Works after every holiday season or travel surge

It’s a feel-good fundraising method that appeals to individuals, families, schools, and businesses alike.

🎯 How to Launch a “Foreign Coins for Cancer” Campaign

A successful foreign coin appeal works best when it’s visible, accessible, and well-promoted.

Here’s how to make yours a success:

1️⃣ Create a Clear Campaign Message

Your call to action should be simple and direct:

“Donate your leftover holiday coins and help fund vital cancer research.”

Keep it short, memorable, and emotionally powerful.

Highlight that donations cost supporters nothing and make a real impact.

2️⃣ Set Up Collection Points

Make it easy for supporters to give:

• Place branded collection boxes in charity shops, cafés, travel agents, and offices

• Add foreign coin donation stations at existing events (e.g. fun runs, coffee mornings, or retail partners)

• Encourage corporate supporters to run internal office collections

Cash4Coins can provide advice on how to label, secure, and manage collection containers effectively.

3️⃣ Promote the Appeal

Use all your available communication channels to spread the word:

• 📨 Email newsletters – announce your campaign and explain how easy it is to donate

• 📱 Social media – share short videos and posts showing how foreign coins add up to real impact

• 🏪 Posters and flyers – display in charity shops, offices, and community spaces

• 🌐 Website & blogs – feature a landing page explaining the appeal and linking to Cash4Coins

Top Tip: Use images of jars of coins, travel souvenirs, and passports to instantly connect the idea of “holiday money” with “charity giving.”

4️⃣ Encourage Friendly Competition

Challenge local branches, schools, or businesses to see who can collect the most coins.

Publish running totals online and celebrate milestones to keep engagement high.

Even small incentives — certificates, social shoutouts, or “top collector” badges — help build momentum.

5️⃣ Send Your Coins to Cash4Coins

Once your collection is complete:

• Send your coins via Freepost, Royal Mail Tracked, or insured courier collection

• We’ll sort, count, and value everything

• You’ll receive a full report and payment direct to your charity’s bank account

What we accept

Start Exchange

We accept 180 current currencies and 400+ outmoded ones, including pre-euro coins, old British pounds, and damaged notes.

How Much Can You Raise?

The potential is huge.

Even small local campaigns often bring in hundreds of pounds, while larger, well-promoted appeals can easily raise thousands.

Example	Approx. Weight	Potential Value
Small school or office drive	5–10 kg	£150–£400
Regional retail network	20–40 kg	£600–£1,200
Nationwide charity appeal	100+ kg	£3,000–£5,000+

And because these are found funds, donors feel extra satisfaction knowing their forgotten coins are making a difference.

♻️ Sustainable and Ethical

Every coin received is processed responsibly:

• Repatriated to its country of origin where possible

• Recycled for metal recovery if obsolete

• Counted and tracked securely

That means your campaign isn’t just raising money for cancer care — it’s promoting sustainability too.

📣 Marketing Ideas to Boost Engagement

Here are some easy ways to promote your appeal creatively:

• 🧳 “Change for Change” Challenge – encourage travellers to donate leftover coins from every trip

• 🏫 Schools for Support – get pupils to collect coins and learn about giving back

• 🏢 Corporate Collections – partner with your existing CSR supporters

• 🎄 Christmas Travel Appeal – remind people after the holidays to clear out drawers

• ✈️ Airport or travel agent partnerships – ideal for collecting foreign currency directly from returning travellers

💚 Why Partner with Cash4Coins

We handle all the logistics so you can focus on fundraising.

✅ Accept all currencies and denominations

✅ No sorting or counting required

✅ Fully insured collection and handling

✅ Transparent reporting and fast payment

✅ Free promotional support materials

We’ve helped dozens of UK charities raise money from coins that would otherwise go to waste — and we can help yours too.

🧭 Ready to Start?

Launching a Foreign Coins for Cancer campaign is one of the easiest, most effective ways to increase donations and engage your supporters.

Let’s turn unused holiday money into hope.

👉 Visit Cash4Coins.co.uk to partner with us and start your campaign today.

Cash4Coins – Turning spare change into real change.