Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Tearfund's Useful Gifts. If your question is not answered here, please contact us.
Yes. You can order items from the Gift Catalogue by phone, or post:
Orders are usually packed within 1-3 business days. Please allow additional time for delivery.
Express Post orders are usually packed within 1-2 business days. Please allow 2-3 days for delivery. Note: Express Post only operates in these areas within Australia.
Australia Post advises delays to Standard and Express Post mail across the network. Express Post will continue to be prioritised as the fastest option for Australia Post customers, but may not always meet the next business day delivery standard. Please see here for delivery time estimates.
If your order is needed urgently, you may like to consider an e-card or print-at-home PDF version. Please feel free to call 1800 244 986 if you require assistance with selecting these card delivery options.
To check on the progress of an existing order, please call our team on 1800 244 986.
Thank you for your patience during this time.
We cannot ship printed cards outside Australia, but you can still order the digital 'Download & Print' (Print-Your-Own) cards or E-cards, which are delivered by email.
Print-your-own cards are sent as a PDF as soon as the order has been finalised. They should arrive within a few minutes. When you buy print-your-own cards, you will be able to download the card after you check-out. You will also be sent an email receipt with a link to download the card.
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 or 'Print your own' card?
NOTE: We do NOT write on your cards—they are delivered to you to personalise.
Not all of the projects supported by Tearfund are able to be represented in the Gift Catalogue - after all, there are many of them! However, this doesn't mean we no longer support them. To reduce our administration, we do not guarantee to match previous year’s gifts to their previous funds and projects. We do keep a limited stock of previous catalogue cards, and it is likely we can supply a card from a previous year’s catalogue. For others, even though they're no longer Gift Catalogue items specifically, Tearfund 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 Tearfund.
Due to COVID-19, our National Office is currently operating under restricted conditions. If you would like to collect your order from the National Office, it's important that you contact us first.
Please call our friendly admin team on 1800 244 986 to discuss options for visiting the office and to place your order.
Yes, we do offer direct bank transfer (Electronic Funds Transfer) EFT as a payment option. This payment option is not available for orders placed through the Useful Gifts site. To place an order for Useful Gifts by bank transfer, please call our friendly admin team on 1800 244 986, or email [email protected] to let us know the following details:
Further instructions for payment will be provided by email.
No. Your purchase of a specific gift is representative of the type of community development work done by our projects. For example, the purchase of a toilet helps to support the work of our Water and Sanitation projects. These project may well install toilets, but they also provide training and education in hygiene, safe water practices, and maintenance of equipment, such as wells and water systems. Likewise, a goat contributes to our Livelihoods and Food Security programs, where communities are provided the skills and tools to transform their lives through better agriculture techniques, training and resources. Some projects will provide goats, and other animals, but they are part of a wider picture of community development.
All items in the Useful Gifts Catalogue are supplied by one or more projects. Should the number of items sold or the funds raised by any of the gifts in this catalogue exceed the amount needed for the projects those gifts are intended to fund, Tearfund will redirect donations to other development work.
Sorry, no. Because Tearfund 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 Tearfund 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 Tearfund to consider.
If any gift is oversubscribed, Tearfund will use your donation to fund similar activities in the following areas: agriculture and livelihood development, community health, education, civil society or environmental sustainability.
Yes. For items of $2 or more, each purchase of a Useful Gift is a tax-deductible donation to TEAR Australia - ABN 85 085 413 832.
Sorry, no. The money received is a donation to Tearfund so the donor must receive the receipt.
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.
Our printed cards are made according to ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standards.
We’re a Christian agency working for a just and compassionate world.
Our work is an expression of God’s love for all people, and we prioritise supporting partners who work alongside people most impacted by poverty and marginalisation.
We’re focused on the root causes of poverty, and committed to long-term transformation. We believe the most effective way to reach this is through community-led development initiatives.
Partnership is at the core of how we work: whether it’s with locally-based Christian agencies around the world, or Australian Christians seeking to make biblically-shaped responses to poverty and injustice.
No. Tearfund'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 and 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.
A foundational value for Tearfund, embedded within our mission statement, is to maintain a low-cost administration regime in order to maximise the funds allocated to project partners. We hold firmly to this commitment. That’s why the price for each item in this Gift Catalogue includes only a very small percentage for administration, consistent with our overall expenditure.
For a copy of the latest annual report and full financial statement, please go to the Tearfund website. or contact us on 1800 244 986.
No, we don't, for two main reasons. Firstly, Tearfund 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.
Tearfund is audited by registered company auditors and accredited by the Australian Government. Tearfund 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 Tearfund's website.
Yes, we accept payment with PayPal. However, please note:
If you have more questions, try the Tearfund website, or please contact us.
