Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I get my printed gift cards?
Australian orders:
It depends on the time of year:
In October-November, your order will be processed within 2-5 working days. In December, it will take 2-3 days and in January-September 7-10 days. Please allow additional time for postage.
You may also choose to have your cards sent by Express Post ($5 extra). Please note: Express Post only operates in these areas within Australia.
International orders:
Please allow up to 8 weeks for delivery (it normally takes up to 2 weeks).
What about e-cards?
Ecards are sent as soon as the order has been finalised. They should arrive within a few minutes. However, internet traffic and many other factors can sometimes delay delivery. You will be sent a copy of the ecard.
Can TEAR send a printed card to my friend instead of me?
We prefer to send the cards to the person ordering them as it's always best if the card is filled in by the gift giver. If time is an issue, why not consider an e-card?
NOTE: We do NOT write on your cards - they are delivered to you to personalise. (Consider an e-card to write a personal message and have it emailed.)
Can I get a certificate instead of a card?
Yes. If you're part of a group and would prefer a certificate rather than a gift card, please let us know how you'd like the certificate made out, and we can send you one.
Can I order by phone, fax, or post?
Yes. You can order items from the Gift Catalogue by phone, fax, or post:
- Call TEAR Australia: (+61) (03) 9264 7000 or (toll free) 1800 244 986 Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm EST (GMT +11)
- Download an order form (pdf), and post or fax it to us:
- Fax: (+61) (03) 9877 7944
- Post:
TEAR Australia
PO Box 164
Blackburn
VIC 3130
AUSTRALIA
Can I have the receipt made out to the person receiving the card?
Sorry, no. The money received is a donation to TEAR Australia so the donor must receive the receipt.
What does 'TEAR' stand for?
TEAR was set up in 1971 by the Australian Evangelical Alliance and was called The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund. As we are now an independent organisation, the letters are no longer used as an acronym. The name was retained because it was familiar to our supporters.
The byline 'Transformation Empowerment Advocacy Relief' has been adopted as a description of the work we do.
Does TEAR fund evangelism?
TEAR's policy is to finance the relief, development and advocacy activities of organisations who are motivated by their faith in Christ, and by their desire to demonstrate the depth of God's commitment to justice, to mercy, to the poor. We do not fund proselytizing activities, but we rejoice and celebrate when we know of people whose lives have been wonderfully and beautifully enriched by the embrace of God in Christ. We long to see this happen. We pray for it to happen. But we will not support any attempt to misuse relief and development activities to manipulate people into the church. We believe such attempts lack integrity, result in poor development, and dishonour the One who is our motivation.
How much of my donation reaches the project?
The price of each item in this Gift Catalogue includes a small percentage for administration.
For the financial year ended 30 June 2009, 90% of TEAR’s total expenditure was spent on programs within Australia and overseas. This consisted of 79% for the aid and development program and 11% for community education within Australia. Community education includes educational staff salaries, advocacy campaigns, and the cost of producing and distributing TEAR’s educational resources. Other project costs are the expenses incurred by TEAR in overseeing the aid and development projects.
Fundraising expenses, such as the production and distribution of the Gift Catalogue and the processing of orders/donations, accounted for 3% of total expenditure. Administrative expenses include bank fees, administration staff salaries and computer expenses. These help support the running of the overall organisation and accounted for 7% of total expenditure for the financial year.
If you would like a copy of the full financial statement, please go to TEAR’s website or contact us on 1800 244 986.
Does TEAR use street fundraisers ('chuggers')?
No, we don’t, for two main reasons. Firstly, TEAR has a commitment to educating people in Australia about the causes of poverty and encouraging our supporters to think about how their life choices can impact communities across the world. So rather than “rattling a tin”, we prefer fundraising methods where we can engage with people, share stories, and provide opportunities for learning.
Secondly, we believe that the cost of this fundraising approach is too high. While we recognise that all fundraising entails costs, we aim to use our budget in this area as wisely as possible, so that the money we are entrusted with can be used where needed most. In the financial year ended June 2009, only 3% of TEAR’s income was spent on fundraising. If you would like a copy of the full financial statement, please go to TEAR’s website or contact us on 1800 244 986.
How do I know the money gets there?
TEAR Australia is audited by registered company auditors and accredited by the Australian Government (through AusAID). TEAR is a signatory to the ACFID (Australian Council for International Development) Code of Conduct, representing our commitment to ethical standards in governance, financial management and public accountability. For a copy of our annual report, call (toll free) 1800 244 986 or visit TEAR's website.
Can I send other items to the project?
TEAR does not facilitate the delivery of gifts in kind. Resources for the projects are sourced locally at local prices (which are much cheaper than here), and more appropriate for the culture of the area. This also has the benefit of supporting local businesses. Transport costs from Australia, and the costs associated with importing or exporting goods, are often higher than the value of the goods themselves.
Can I get a photo of the actual item I'm purchasing, or write to the people in the village I'm supporting?
Sorry, no. Because TEAR supports local agencies working to use their funds in the most appropriate way, extra services like individual photos, translation for letters, postage and attributing specific items to specific donors are beyond their capacity. Nor would TEAR provide extra funding for this type of activity when that money could be used for essential development work. We understand that building up a 'personal' connection with the gifts can be desirable, but it is simply too expensive for TEAR to consider.
In many cases, we can send you photos from the project, or a project profile, or a relevant story from one of our publications about how items in the catalogue are helping communities in need.
The only exception is for item V, Urban Community. Instead of a gift card, purchasers receive a certificate with the name of the village supported and details of the project, plus a six-month update.
Can I still buy gifts from last year's Gift Catalogue if they aren't in this years?
Not all of the projects supported by TEAR Australia are able to be represented in the Gift Catalogue - after all, there are more than 240 of them! However, this doesn't mean we no longer support them. Often, items have been moved from the printed catalogue but will be available online for a limited period of time. For others, even though they're no longer Gift Catalogue items specifically, TEAR Australia is likely to be continuing support, with funds raised from general giving (unless the item is more than a few years old). If you have a particular gift in mind please contact TEAR.
Can I buy a gift for Indigenous Australia through the Gift Catalogue?
TEAR Australia supports several programs in partnership with Indigenous Australians. The majority of these focus on community development training with Indigenous people. These courses equip and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to run programs in their own region which identify issues and meet community needs. You can donate to TEAR's partnership with Indigenous Australians through the Common Wealth program. We hope to make a Common Wealth Useful Gift available for a short time during 2009-2010. Please contact us if you would like to be advised when this gift is on sale.
What if any gift is oversubscribed?
If any gift is oversubscribed, please allow TEAR to use your donation to fund similar activities in the following areas: agriculture and livelihood development, community health, education, civil society or environmental sustainability.
What if I have more questions?
If you have more questions, try the 'What Is TEAR' section of our website at http://www.tear.org.au, or please contact us.