Gift Catalogue FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How soon can I get my printed gift cards?

Australian orders:
Your order will be processed within 7-10 days. Please allow 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 the 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?

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?

No, TEAR does not fund or subsidise evangelistic or proselytising activities. All funds distributed by us to our overseas partners are used for development programs designed to meet the needs of people within poor communities, regardless of their religious or political beliefs.

While TEAR's overseas partners are motivated by their understanding of God's love, we believe that any attempt to use funds designated for development as a means of manipulating people into a different faith position is a betrayal of trust, and demonstrates a lack of integrity.

How much of my donation reaches the project?

The price of each item in this Gift Catalogue includes a small percentage for overheads. Of TEAR Australia's total expenditure, 7% covers administrative costs, 2% is spent on fundraising, 9% is spent on educating people within Australia about poverty and its causes and 82% goes to projects. These percentages relate to the financial year ended 30 June 2007.

How do I know the money gets there?

All projects are audited by accountants and reviewed by TEAR project workers. TEAR is also audited by registered company auditors and accredited by the Australian Government (through AusAID). TEAR is a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct, representing our commitment to ethical standards in governance, financial management and public accountability.

TEAR's Annual Report and Target Magazine show some of the work being done by our overseas partners. For copies, or more information, visit www.tear.org.au

If I buy a goat, does the money actually go to buy a goat?

All donations received from the Gift Catalogue are allocated to the projects providing the items selected. So, when you purchase a goat, your donation supports a project in Afghanistan or Bangladesh that has goat rearing as one of its components. We calculate the amount so that it includes a goat and contributes to training in animal husbandry.

What if too many items are purchased?

Some gifts raise more funds than our partners are able to use for that item. When this happens, TEAR Australia will redirect your donation to other activities in the same project or another equally worthwhile project. TEAR will still send you the gift card for the item you selected.

How do you work out the prices for each item?

The cost of each gift is determined by the actual cost of the item in the project, averaged out between the countries, with the administration levy added. These are all projects that TEAR Australia deems cost-effective, run by TEAR's long-term partners.

Because TEAR often works with several projects supplying the same item, and usually in more than one country, we average the cost of the item between these locations. The reasons why the costs vary so much between projects are:

Location: Different places cost very different amounts to operate within. A rural village might need everything carted in by road, and supply might be from a small market, whereas in the big cities a project can choose a supplier and pick up items directly from the market.
Quality: A pregnant animal will cost a lot more than a young animal, which will need to be fed for six months before its value is realised. Spending more to get a mature animal means knowing that the animal will be fertile.

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, the Village Package. 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.

What if I have more questions?

If you have more questions, try the 'What Is TEAR' section of our website at www.tear.org.au, or please contact us using the details below:

Email: info@tear.org.au
Call TEAR Australia: (+61) (03) 9877 7444 Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm EST (GMT +11)
Fax: (+61) (03) 9877 7944
Post:
TEAR Australia
PO Box 164
Blackburn
VIC 3130
AUSTRALIA