Donate foreign currency and your OV-chipcard to charity

By Moeerd – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

Header picture: Moeerd – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

Do you still have some foreign currency lying around in a drawer from your last vacation? Or perhaps an anonymous public transport chip card with credit you no longer use? Don’t throw it away! Through Buitenlandsgelddoneren.nl, an initiative of the Cambio Foundation, you can easily donate your old currency and public transport chip card. This way, you give money that would otherwise remain unused a second life and directly support valuable charities.

You can donate your public transport chip card here: https://Donateforeigncurrency.org/contact/

What is DonateForeignCurrency.org?

DonateForeignCurrency.org is a social initiative of the Cambio Foundation. Our mission? To give unused money value again. We collect foreign currency—such as old pounds, pesetas, US dollars, or even obsolete European currencies—and convert it into financial support for a variety of charities at home and abroad.

New to our offering is the option to also donate anonymous public transport chip cards with credit. We can redeem the remaining balance on these cards and use it for our social work.

Why Donate Foreign Money?

Many people return from their vacation with some coins or banknotes in their pockets. Sometimes these banknotes remain unused in a drawer for years. Even old currencies—such as the German mark or French franc—have become worthless to most people. But for the Cambio Foundation, that money is still valuable.

We ensure that:

The money is converted into euros through recognized exchange partners.
The proceeds are fully donated to charities.
You can effortlessly contribute to a better world.

Even coins that can no longer be exchanged at a bank are usable, because we work with specialized parties.

New: Donate Your Public Transport Chip Card with Balance

Recently, it’s also possible to donate your anonymous public transport chip card. Many travelers don’t realize that expired or unused public transport chip cards often still contain a significant amount of credit. According to figures from Translink, millions of euros in credit are not reclaimed every year.

Why does this happen?

• Many people forget their card.
• Reclaiming credit feels cumbersome.
• The card is tucked away in a drawer somewhere, never to be used again.

By donating your card to Buitenlandsgelddoneren.nl, you don’t have to do anything yourself. We’ll take care of the entire process of reclaiming and processing the balance. The credit will then benefit one of our social projects.

Which Charities Do We Support?

The proceeds from both the foreign currency and the public transport chip cards go to projects focused on:

• Poverty alleviation: both in the Netherlands and in developing countries. Education and development: support for schools, book projects, and learning materials.
• Sustainability: initiatives for a better living environment.
• Social inclusion: support for vulnerable groups, such as the homeless.

The Cambio Foundation collaborates with reliable partners, both nationally and internationally. Transparency and impact are central to us. Every year, we publish a report detailing the allocation of funds.

How Does Donating Work?

1. Donating Foreign Currency

You can send your foreign currency by mail or drop it off at one of our collection points. This applies to:

Coins and banknotes
Old and new currency
Even coins that banks no longer accept

Pack your donation securely and send it to the address on our website.

2. Donating a Public Transport Chip Card

Do you have an anonymous public transport chip card with (possibly) some remaining balance? Then you can send it in an envelope to Stichting Cambio. We will ensure that the remaining balance is reclaimed. Important:

The card must be anonymous, not a personal card.
The card can be expired – as long as it is within five years.
Cards with no balance are also welcome (for recycling and awareness).

You can find all instructions on our website: https://Donateforeigncurrency.org/contact/

What Happens with My Donation?

As soon as we receive your donation, we sort the money and assess the condition of the public transport chip card. Foreign currencies are converted into euros through recognized exchange partners. Public transport chip cards are checked for remaining balance, which we reclaim from Translink.

The entire amount raised goes to our charities. We don’t make any profit from these activities; every cent is spent responsibly.

Why Donate through the Cambio Foundation?

✅ Reliable – We are a recognized foundation with ANBI status.
✅ Transparent – We publish a financial and substantive annual report every year.
✅ Sustainable – By donating, you prevent the waste of money and materials.
✅ Accessible – No complicated procedures, simply sending it in is enough.
✅ Meaningful – You directly help people in need, without incurring any costs yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I also donate foreign currency from non-European countries? Yes! Dollars, yen, pounds, rupees, and other currencies are also welcome.

2. What happens if my OV-chipkaart runs out of balance?
Donating is still worthwhile. We can use the card for awareness campaigns or recycle it through our partners.

3. How do I know my donation is being used effectively?
We publish an annual overview of all proceeds and expenditures. Transparency is our top priority.

Help Us – Small Gesture, Big Impact

With one unused OV-chipkaart or some forgotten holiday money, you can make a difference. Instead of letting this money gather dust or disappear into the trash, you give it a second life. The Cambio Foundation makes every euro count.

Visit our website today and discover how you can get involved:

https://Donateforeigncurrency.org/contact/

Together we ensure that money does not lose its value – but instead produces something beautiful.