Tearfund Australia

What Tearfund Australia does

Tearfund Australia (legal name TEAR Australia, formerly The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund) is a Christian international development, humanitarian, and advocacy charity founded in 1970 and headquartered in Blackburn, Melbourne, with regional offices in Sydney and Perth. The organisation partners with 41 local Christian organisations across 19 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and domestically with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, jointly running 75 active projects that have helped 2.6 million+ participants.

Tearfund's core products are structured giving programs rather than technology offerings: the Restorers monthly giving community (2,400+ supporters at $40-$240/month tiers), Useful Gifts e-commerce catalogue, Gifts in Wills bequest program (average ~$10,000), Philanthropy Partnership for major donors, and Tearfund Action advocacy/faith-engagement programming. The business model is a diversified non-profit revenue stack combining individual donations, ANCP government co-funding, philanthropy/major gifts, and bequests, with 83 cents of every donated dollar flowing to programs.

The go-to-market is community-led, mobilising Australian Christians and churches through content marketing, email newsletters, events/webinars, Lent devotionals, social media, advocacy campaigns, and faith-based community organising via Tearfund Action groups. Accreditations include DFAT, ACFID Code of Conduct, ACNC registration, DGR status, and Integral Alliance membership, providing regulatory credibility. Technology infrastructure is minimal and standard — payment processing through Westpac Payway, a donation website, and basic CRM — appropriate for a relationship-driven charity rather than a technology company. Leadership is led by CEO Bec Oates with a 46-person team.

Name

Tearfund Australia

Legal name

TEAR Australia

Website

https://tearfund.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tearfund Australia is a Christian international development charity that partners with 41 local organisations across 19 countries to tackle poverty and injustice. It funds programmes in water, health, education, and livelihoods through donations from Australian Christians, government grants, and philanthropy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development and Humanitarian Aid

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• International development
• Humanitarian aid
• Faith-based charity
• Community development
• Poverty alleviation

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackburn, Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, including monthly Restorers program and end-of-financial-year appeals.
2. Philanthropy and Major Gifts: Partnerships with individuals, family trusts, foundations and private ancillary funds for strategic giving.
3. Government Grants: Funding from Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
4. Gifts in Wills (Bequests): Legacy giving through supporter bequests, with most common gift being $10,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tearfund Australia is a Christian international development and humanitarian charity that partners with 41 local Christian organisations across 19 countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific to deliver community-led programs in education, health, water and sanitation, food security, community building and humanitarian response. The organisation mobilises Australian Christians through monthly giving (Restorers), philanthropy partnerships, bequests, advocacy and church engagement to fund these programs, with 83% of every dollar directed to programs.

Product overview

Tearfund Australia operates as a Christian charity platform offering multiple engagement pathways rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Restorers (monthly giving community), Gifts in Wills (bequest program), Philanthropy Partnership (strategic giving), and Tearfund Action (advocacy/engagement). Supporting programs include Useful Gifts (donation catalog), The Table (Lent devotional series), Share the Table (host kit program), and First Peoples of Australia Partnerships. The organization primarily facilitates donations, fundraising, advocacy actions, and spiritual resources rather than a SaaS or technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Restorers: Monthly giving community of everyday Christians using their generosity to tackle poverty and bring restoration to hard places. Over 2,400+ supporters give monthly through this program.
• Useful Gifts

Products and services

• Restorers Monthly Giving Program A monthly giving subscription community for Australian Christians who commit to recurring donations to tackle poverty at its roots. Offers tiered monthly amounts ($40, $50, $80, $240/month) tied to specific development outcomes, with 2,400+ active monthly givers and 81 cents of every dollar directed to life-changing projects.
• Gifts in Wills (Bequest Program) A legacy giving program enabling supporters to leave a bequest in their Will to fund Tearfund's ongoing poverty and injustice work. Most common legacy gift is $10,000, with partnership offering discounted online will-writing via SafeWill Australia.
• Philanthropy Partnership Program A strategic giving program partnering with individuals, family trusts, foundations, and private ancillary funds for impactful donations to communities facing poverty. Designed for high-value philanthropic relationships.
• Useful Gifts Catalogue An online donation catalogue at usefulgifts.org.au where supporters can purchase specific charitable gift items (such as clean water access, livestock, training, food security, education) as gifts for others, with proceeds directed to Tearfund's development programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.6M+ participants helped through 75 projects across 19 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Integral AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTearfund is a member of Integral Alliance, a network of 22 Christian aid and development agencies who collaborate to provide effective responses to major humanitarian emergencies globally.
• Vision Terudo (Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Christian partner in Karamoja, Uganda implementing Village Savings and Loans Associations, agricultural training, and hygiene education programs since 2011.
• EFICOR (India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTearfund's local partner in India working for decades to ensure people know how to access government entitlements and feel empowered to navigate complex systems. Has helped 18,000 people with leprosy access bank accounts.
• Share and Care NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner mobilising Nepalese communities to restore water systems and form Drinking Water Committees for sustainable water access.
• United Mission to Nepal (UMN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner working in remote mountainous regions of Nepal on education and community development programs.
• Oasis MozambiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2011 implementing community development, literacy groups, and savings groups in Mozambique. Executive Director Armando Licoze contributes to Tearfund's Lent devotional series.
• Nzeve ZimbabwecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2011 providing peacebuilding and community development in Zimbabwe. Executive Director Blessing Chaipa contributes to Tearfund's Lent devotional series.
• Hope for HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-led health initiative on Elcho Island in the Northern Territory, combining modern nutrition with traditional Yolngu practices for chronic disease prevention.
• Moorditj KeilacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal Community Organisation in South Perth working to strengthen community through projects including driver licence programs for young Aboriginal people.
• Strong Women TalkingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots movement of First Nations women passionate about breaking the cycle of domestic violence and sexual abuse, led by Sono Leone.
• Nungalinya CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivering accredited Certificate II courses addressing violence prevention, family wellbeing, and healing from trauma in the Northern Territory.
• SafeWill AustraliaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with SafeWill Australia's online will-writing service, offering Tearfund supporters a discounted rate ($80 instead of $160) for creating their will.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Oxfam Australia: Large secular international development and humanitarian NGO delivering poverty, gender, and climate programmes globally. Broad incumbent competing for the same Australian donor pool and DFAT/ANCP funding, but on a faith-neutral platform.

Direct peers

• Compassion Australia: Christian child-sponsorship and community development organisation operating in dozens of developing countries with Australian Christ-centered fundraising. Direct peer on faith-motivated monthly giving, partner-led programme delivery, and donor mobilisation.
• UnitingWorld: Uniting Church agency for international community development, partnerships, and mission in the Asia-Pacific. Direct peer on faith-mobilised giving, long-term partner relationships, and DFAT/ACNC-accredited Australian aid work.
• World Vision Australia: Australia's largest Christian humanitarian and development NGO with child sponsorship, disaster response, and long-term community development across dozens of countries. Direct peer operating the same faith-motivated donor and long-term partner model at significantly larger scale.
• Act for Peace (NCCA): Australian ecumenical international aid agency of the National Council of Churches, running humanitarian and development programmes via partner organisations. Direct peer on faith-based donor base, ANCP funding access, and partner-delivered community programmes.
• Baptist World Aid: Australian Baptist international aid agency funding community development, advocacy, and emergency response through partner NGOs. Direct peer on Christian donor mobilisation, ANCP co-funding, and partner-led programme model.
• Anglican Board of Mission: Anglican international mission and development agency supporting partner-led community programmes in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Direct peer on Christian donor mobilisation, partner relationships, and Australian-accredited aid delivery.
• Caritas Australia: Catholic agency for international aid and humanitarian relief, working with local partners across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Direct peer on faith-mobilised fundraising, ANCP/DFAT-funded programmes, and long-term community development partnerships.

Emerging players

• Partners International: Smaller Australian Christian NGO funding local partner ministries and development projects across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Emerging player with very similar partner-led, faith-motivated model and overlapping ANCP-eligible country footprint.
• CBM Australia: Christian disability-focused international development organisation working with partners in low-income countries. Emerging player with overlapping faith-motivated donor base and partner-led model, but differentiated by disability-inclusion mandate.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tear-australia

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tearfund Australia