January 29, 2023

Foreign Currency Fundraising 101

What is foreign currency fundraising?

Simply put, it is the collection of leftover foreign currency being donated to a charity.

Is it really that easy?

Yes and no. Asking people to donate their leftover foreign currency is pretty simplistic in itself. But it is a little more complicated than that. While most people have some foreign currency sitting at home collecting dust, they don’t give it any thought. And why would they? It came home from vacation and was tucked away somewhere, perhaps with the intention of taking it back on their next trip.

Why should you collect foreign currency for charity?

There is between $2-$3 Billion worth of leftover foreign currency just in Canada.

You can’t spend foreign currency anyway, so why not donate it instead?

Sure, you can take some foreign bank notes to your bank and exchange them. You can take more different currencies to a currency exchange … but neither of them exchange every currency nor do they accept many low denominations from many different countries.

You can’t exchange foreign coins … anywhere.

Foreign coins are not accepted at any bank nor are they accepted at any currency exchange. You can’t spend them and you can’t exchange them, and when you really think about it, you won’t likely remember to take them with you the next time you travel … so why not donate them and do something good instead?

Foreign currency is cash but it is not disposable income.

Asking people to donate foreign currency may sound like you are asking people to donate cash and you would be right. The difference lies in the fact that foreign currency can’t be used to buy groceries, pay the rent or mortgage, it can’t even be used to buy a coffee … in other words, it has no value here.

In 2012 the Royal Canadian Mint announced the withdrawal of the penny … and that created a frenzy for penny drives across Canada!

In 2012/13, charities across Canada went crazy for penny drives after the Royal Canadian Mint announced the withdrawal of the penny. Penny drives ranged from small local events to national programs with partners such as the Royal Bank of Canada.

One such drive collected $25,000.00 but took so much time and effort to manage that the charity considered it to be a failure.

Another drive, one partnered with RBC, started with a goal of collecting $700,000.00! To be frank, unless you have a major bank as a partner, such a goal would be debilitating … trying to handle 70 Million pennies would take machinery that most organizations just don’t have. In the end, that program ended up collecting $1.4 Million worth of pennies!

Collecting pennies vs. leftover foreign currency.

Did you know? There is roughly $3.84/kg of pennies … yet 1kg of foreign currency typically has a value 15-20 TIMES that much! That’s $57.60 to $76.80!

Based on weight, a penny drive that collected $25,000.00 could have collected as much as $500,000.00. And that charity that collected $1.4 Million … could have been on track to $28 Million!

The other difference between a penny drive and a foreign currency program …

Unlike penny drives from 10 years ago, a foreign currency program does not require a lot of effort by the charity. Sure, they need to collect the donations (either directly or through local partnerships), but the “work” of handling those funds does not have to fall to them, at least not alone.

Global Coin Solutions is there to be that partner. We can handle the pickups (either from the charity or their partner network), we handle the processing, sorting, and the ultimate repatriation of the currency that enables us to turn it into funds the charity can use.

Why aren’t more charities collecting leftover foreign currency today?

The big effort for the charity is in promoting their program, creating awareness. Collecting leftover foreign currency is new in Canada so there will be lots of questions; the most common being “why haven’t I heard about this before?”.

The other effort for the charity will be to find partners to collect on their behalf.

Smaller charities supporting community initiatives will most commonly be looking for small businesses with store fronts. These programs will not only be raising funds for the charity and promoting their work, but also creating awareness and driving traffic to the businesses supporting their collection program.

Larger charities will be looking to connect with provincial or national partners. Those will add logistical challenges but nothing that can’t be overcome.

The other main difference between a penny drive and a foreign currency collection program is that collecting leftover foreign currency is intended to be a long term program, not a short term drive. Canadians travel and therefore there is always more foreign currency coming back into the country. Whereas the penny drive concept was intended to pull pennies into the charity before they stopped being used and the amount in circulation declined to a level that wouldn’t support these programs.

Did you know? Total circulation of the Canadian penny was 35,000,000,000 pieces or $350 Million.

This begs the question: why did charities, big and small, launch penny drives across the country in such a big way and yet they have not picked up on the concept of collecting leftover foreign currency when there is an estimated $2-$3 Billion worth of it available in Canada now?

How else can charities collect foreign currency?

Believe it or not, simply let people know where they can mail their leftover foreign currency.

UNICEF USA promotes the mail in option for their Change for Good program and Americans do!

Durham Children’s Aid Foundation is the founding partner of the Currency for Kids program. They have a very good page promoting the program on their website, use social media very effectively to talk about the program, and use Google Ads to promote it on the internet in general. All of these methods talk about the mail in option … and people do! They receive donations in the mail most days of the week, and not just from people in Ontario. They receive donations from across Canada, from the U.S, and most recently they received a donation mailed in from Hong Kong! Yes, Hong Kong … the one roughly 12,500kms from DCAF’s office in Oshawa Ontario.

People are looking for things to do with their leftover foreign currency, so why not give them something great they can do … helping others!

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HOT Travel Season, COLD Cash Supports Kids!

By Dennis Ullman • September 12, 2025

Perspective from over 30 years of fund-raising experience As the busiest travel season of the year begins to wind down, I’m sure we can all agree… it certainly was a hot one. Record breaking temperatures, high levels of humidity along with a record number of forest fires made headlines during the past couple of months throughout North America. People made the most of the weather and enjoyed days at the beach or lounging in the pool. The heat did not negatively impact the level of travel throughout the summer and kept air conditioners running constantly for days on end. Many destinations that were visited required the need for a different or foreign currency. With so many denominations and types of currency available, people often have “leftover” currency upon their return to home or business. This foreign currency has no real use in our home communities. So how can we make a difference while making a positive impact with the leftover Foreign Currency? Question: What to do with the leftover Foreign Currency? We have a solution that provides a simple and convenient way to donate your leftover holiday cash. Donations can be made in support of an existing program or you can add your favourite charity to the growing list of organizations that can benefit from over $2 Billion of leftover Foreign Currency that exists in Canada. GCS and it’s charity (non-profit) partners support programs such as Currency for Kids and Currency for Food. These are just two of the many programs being supported by a growing number of organizations who now collect leftover Foreign Currency in support of local, regional and national community-based needs. This is an exciting time as many organizations are now realizing the benefits of receiving donations of leftover holiday cash. Organizations in the United States and throughout most of Canada are now able to receive your donation. Recently a volunteer living near Georgian Bay (Ontario) began to organize a new program that would see donations collected to support various Food Banks throughout the Georgian Triangle Region (area surrounding Collingwood, Ontario). For a complete list of locations where you can drop off your donation visit the GCS website to see a map of ALL locations that accept donations of leftover foreign currency. Alternatively, you can mail your donations to GCS for processing in support of your favourite charitable organization. How can your travels help to support Food and Kids? The answer is simple. Upon return from your vacation this summer, donate your leftover foreign currency to support initiatives like Currency for Food, Currency for Kids or the charity or non-profit organization of your choice. Yes, leftover coins and bank notes can be donated to help make a difference in the lives of those who are struggling. Many people are having difficulties these days. Disadvantaged Children and Youth are in need, as community organizations work to fund educational needs for the return to school in September, or even the basic essential for survival. Needs that include food, safe shelter, funds for clothing, mental health support and other basic necessities. Your donation of leftover Foreign Currency will make a difference. In case you are wondering, please be reminded that ALL CURRENCY is ACCEPTED, regardless of the amount, date of circulation, condition of the currency, etc. All currency has a value, maybe not useful for day-to-day purchases, but when repatriated back to the country of origin, the exchange into Canadian funds makes a tremendous difference in local communities. To date over $20 million has been processed thanks to donors across the country. When you consider there is an estimated $2-3 Billion still available in Canada, there is much more we can do to support charitable work. Be sure to donate your leftover Foreign Currency, the cold cash you have left over from your “hot” summer travels. Together we can make a real difference. Helping to Change the World, One Cent at a Time. For over ten years, Global Coin Solutions (GCS) has been repatriating leftover Foreign Currency in support of charities and not-for-profit organizations. $20 million has been collected, hand sorted, repatriated and at the end of the process donated to hundreds of charitable organizations. Visit GCS on YouTube for more information. Did You Know? If you are seeking a charity to receive your donation, or if your charity of choice is not aware of Foreign Currency Collection Programs, please reach out to the team at Global Coin Solutions (GCS) and we’ll ensure that your donation is processed and the funds are provided to assist your charity of choice. Please visit the GCS website for more information https://www.globalcoinsolutions.com/ . For more information contact Dennis Ullman, Vice-President – Innovation and Development, Global Coin Solutions dennis@globalcoinsolutions.com or visit Global Coin Solutions today. The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Busy Travel Season, Supports Food and Kids!

By Dennis Ullman • August 27, 2025

Perspective from over 30 years of fund-raising experience Yes, it’s that time of year… the busiest season of the year for travel. With the children now out of school for summer vacation and many parents taking time off… travel will most likely be the plan for many people. As we plan our summer trips, I’m learning that making reservations in advance is a great idea. Many favourable places are getting booked for the summer months. Travels and vacation may include visiting family, friends, sightseeing and could include a trip to a foreign country. Perhaps visiting your heritage and immersing yourself in a familiar culture is the plan. Others may be looking for an adventure and planning to traveling somewhere new. Every 60 seconds the team at GCS hears the airplanes fly over our office, as the planes come and go from Lester B. Pearson Airport. This is tangible proof that we are still travelling on a regular basis. Some destinations often lead to the need for a different or foreign currency. GCS is very thankful for our partners who support programs such as Currency for Kids . Be sure to visit one of the currency exchanges that help to collect donations of leftover foreign currency. Some of these awesome partners include Global Currency Services (Guelph) , Ultimate Currency (Ottawa area) , Wellington FX (Kingston) , Currency Convertors (Waterloo) , London Currency Exchange , Foreign Exchange Currency Shop (Finchurst Plaza) or one of 19 Continental Currency Exchange locations. Or, you can visit the GCS website that includes a map of ALL locations that accept donations of leftover foreign currency. Now that you have your Currency for the trip… please accept our best wishes and enjoy your vacation. How can your travels help to support Food and Kids? The answer is simple. Upon return from your vacation this summer, donate your leftover foreign currency to support initiatives like Currency for Food , Currency for Kids or the charity or non-profit organization of your choice. Yes, those leftover coins and bank notes can be donated to help make a difference in the lives of those who are struggling. Many people are having difficulties these days. Food Banks are in the news every day as they report a drastic increase in the demand for support as the number of families accessing the Food Banks are at record levels. Children and Youth are also in need, as community organizations work to fund summer camps, educational needs for the return to school in September, or even the basic needs to survive. Needs that include safe shelter, funds for clothing and other basic necessities. Your donation of leftover Foreign Currency will make a difference. Remember, donations of leftover holiday cash can help children, families, seniors, those trying to improve their mental health and many other needs in our community. I have an idea… what if you donated all of the leftover Foreign Currency you have from your summer vacation or travels to a charitable organization? I'm not referring to your disposable income or your vacation fund for the next trip. GCS is encouraging you to donate those coins and bank notes that will not be accepted by the currency exchange or bank. Please keep in mind, ALL CURRENCY ACCEPTED , regardless of the amount, date of circulation, condition of the currency, etc. All currency has a value, maybe not here in our community – but when repatriated back to the country of origin, the exchange into Canadian funds continues to make a difference. To date over $25 million has been processed thanks to donors like you. This may be great news. But, when you consider there is an estimated $2-3 Billion still available in Canada, there is much more we can do to support charitable work in our communities. Be sure to set a reminder on your phone or calendar to donate your leftover Foreign Currency at the end of the summer . Together we can make a real difference. Helping to Change the World, One Cent at a Time . For over ten years, Global Coin Solutions (GCS) has been repatriating leftover Foreign Currency in support of charities and not-for-profit organizations. During this time, https://www.facebook.com/CurrencyForFood/, hand sorted, repatriated and at the end of the process donated to hundreds of charitable organizations. Visit GCS on YouTube for more information. Did You Know? If you are seeking a charity to receive your donation, or if your charity of choice is not aware of Foreign Currency Collection Programs, please reach out to the team at Global Coin Solutions (GCS) and we’ll ensure that your donation is processed and the funds are provided to assist your charity of choice. Please visit the GCS website for more information https://www.globalcoinsolutions.com/ . For more information contact Dennis Ullman, Vice-President – Innovation and Development, Global Coin Solutions dennis@globalcoinsolutions.com or visit Global Coin Solutions today.

CHANGE – What does this really mean?

By Dennis Ullman • August 27, 2025

Perspective from over 30 years of fund-raising experience We have been hearing so much about “change” throughout the past couple of months. During the election campaigns, everyone spoke of a better Canada, time for a change, etc. I heard many years ago that “everyone wants progress and growth, but very few want to experience change” In fact, we are often fearful of real change. At the same time, we complain about the political situation, finances, local leaders and now, regardless of the final outcome – many people will be unhappy with the results of the recent federal election. Take the United States for example, “everyone” wanted change, so the majority voted in President Trump. Yes, he is making drastic changes, but people are complaining about the changes. The way to make a real difference or make a significant change, is to do something different that will hopefully bring about something new, different results, perhaps something better for all. If we don’t implement or try something different or new… change will never take place. Hopefully we can agree that reducing the need for Food Banks, minimizing impact of import/export tariffs, and a solution that would provide access to affordable housing would be a real change. I have an idea… what if we took all of the leftover Foreign Currency we have and donated it to a charitable organization? Yes, taking our change (coins) and using them to support real change in our community and in fact the entire country. What if we stopped storing up our leftover foreign currency, bank notes and coins and instead we donated this currency to help support change. I can hear the responses coming through already. How would this be possible? It will never make an impact, etc. What we do know is that Food Banks report that you can actually feed an adult or small family for around $75 per week. Some may argue, but the source of this statistic comes from the Food Bank networks… Let’s do the math… $100K in donations would feed over 133,000 for a week… to feed 133,000 for a year would cost approximately $5.2 Million. Considering that there is between $2-3 Billion available in leftover foreign currency, this is actually very realistic. With lots of potential funds still available to assist with the need for affordable housing and other needs in the community. We could assist seniors, disadvantaged youth, children living invulnerable situations, mental heath supports, summer camps for kids and the list goes on… What we need to do is make a real change. Rather than storing up our leftover foreign currency, which is what the majority of us currently do. We also have no real plan to use these funds and we can’t exchange most of the coins and some denominations into Canadian currency. So, now is the time to take our “change” and make a real change in our country. We don’t need to ask the government for additional funding or their permission to donate our leftover foreign currency. So, let’s go ahead make a real difference by donating to our charity of choice TODAY! The donation of leftover foreign currency does not come from our disposable income, so no direct impact on our day-to-day living. It’s time to donate those bags, boxes and containers of currency you were not able to return to the bank or currency exchange. Are you willing to make a real change? While helping to minimize the impact of the negative and strive to make life more positive for our family, friends and neighbours For over ten years, Global Coin Solutions (GCS) has been repatriating leftover Foreign Currency in support of charities and not-for-profit organizations. During this time, over $20 million was collected, hand sorted, repatriated and at the end of the process donated to hundreds of charitable organizations. Visit the GCS on YouTube for more information. Did You Know? If you are seeking a charity to receive your donation, or if your charity of choice is not aware of Foreign Currency Collection Programs, reach out to the team at Global Coin Solutions (GCS) and we’ll ensure that your donation is processed and the funds are provided to assist your charity of choice. Please visit the GCS website for more information https://www.globalcoinsolutions.com/ . Your donations could help to support Currency for Kids, Currency for Food or many other organizations. Please donate your leftover foreign currency today. Now is the time for you to begin helping to Change the World, One Cent at a Time. For more information contact Dennis Ullman, Vice-President – Innovation and Development, Global Coin Solutions dennis@globalcoinsolutions.com or visit Global Coin Solutions today.