Tearfund New Zealand

What Tearfund New Zealand does

Tearfund New Zealand (legally The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund, registered charity CC21725) is a Christian international development charity founded in 1975 and headquartered in Auckland. The organisation's stated mission is to connect New Zealanders with opportunities to alleviate extreme poverty and injustice in vulnerable communities, delivering this mission through partnerships with local churches in 17 countries directly and with Compassion International in an additional 25 countries, for a total programme footprint of 48 countries. Focus areas are child development, modern slavery prevention, farming and enterprise livelihoods, advocacy, and disaster and conflict response.

The organisation operates a portfolio of giving programmes rather than traditional products. Core revenue streams are child sponsorship (approximately 7,500 NZ sponsors at from $29 per fortnight via Compassion International), the World of Difference monthly giving programme (approximately 1,500 donors contributing flexible recurring amounts), payroll giving through iPayroll (with a 33.33% immediate tax credit), the Gift for Life charity catalogue (fixed-price symbolic gifts from $10 to $600), legacy giving via Gifts in Wills (partnered with GatheredHere), and time-limited emergency appeals. Distribution relies on a self-serve website, outbound phone fundraising by agency Unity4, employer payroll integrations, and an in-person church network comprising trained volunteer Church Representatives, Speakers, and roughly 100 churches hosting the annual Big Quiz Night.

Tearfund reports delivering NZ$18 million in aid annually, with approximately 70% of Gift for Life donations reaching overseas projects, and claims 9,800 children sponsored and 100,000 lives impacted historically. The organisation is governed by a Board and led by CEO Ian McInnes, with a senior team spanning International Programmes, Marketing & Fundraising, Advocacy, and Church Engagement. There are 56 employees, no disclosed parent or subsidiary entities, no funding rounds (consistent with non-profit status), and no AI/ML or proprietary technology assets described in the available material.

Name

Tearfund New Zealand

Legal name

The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund (t/a Tearfund New Zealand)

Website

https://tearfund.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Tearfund New Zealand is a 1975-founded Christian international development charity headquartered in Auckland that raises donations from New Zealand supporters to fund poverty alleviation, child sponsorship, anti-trafficking, and disaster response programmes through church-based partners in 48 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Charity

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Child and Youth Services (62411), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

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), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• International development charity
• Child sponsorship programs
• Humanitarian disaster relief
• Faith-based fundraising
• Poverty alleviation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Appeals: One-off and recurring donations from individual New Zealand supporters, channelled through disaster/emergency appeals, general fund, and designated projects. Revenue is raised via website, phone (Unity4 agency), email, and events.
2. Child Sponsorship: Monthly sponsorship fees from individual donors (approximately 7,500+ NZ sponsors) supporting children through Compassion International's church-based child development programme. Sponsors correspond with children and receive impact updates.
3. Legacy Giving / Bequests: Planned gifts left in supporters' Wills, including residual estate gifts, percentage bequests, and pecuniary gifts. Tearfund actively cultivates legacy donors through dedicated communications and resources.
4. Payroll Giving: Regular payroll deductions arranged through employers' payroll systems. Donors receive an immediate 33.33-cent-per-dollar tax credit. Tearfund partners with iPayroll and encourages employers to match donations.
5. Gift for Life Catalogue: A charity gift catalogue where donors purchase symbolic gifts (e.g., chickens, goats, training) at fixed price points ($10–$600) in honour of friends/loved ones. Proceeds fund overseas development projects.
6. World of Difference Monthly Giving: Approximately 1,500 monthly givers contribute to a pooled fund supporting Tearfund's global programmes. Donors choose their own giving level and receive quarterly impact updates. This provides Tearfund with predictable, flexible funding for long-term planning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Tearfund New Zealand is a registered Christian international development charity that connects New Zealand supporters with vulnerable communities worldwide through a portfolio of giving programmes. Its core offerings include child sponsorship (delivered in partnership with Compassion International), a World of Difference monthly giving programme, a Gift for Life charity gift catalogue, payroll giving, gifts in wills/legacy giving, and time-limited emergency disaster appeals. Charitable impact is delivered through local church-based partners in 17 countries and Compassion International partners in 25 countries across child development, modern slavery prevention, farming and enterprise livelihoods, and disasters and conflict response.

Product overview

Tearfund New Zealand is a Christian international development charity offering a portfolio of giving programmes designed to connect New Zealanders with opportunities to support vulnerable communities worldwide. The core offerings include the Child Sponsorship Programme (operated in partnership with Compassion International), the World of Difference monthly giving programme, Gift for Life charity catalogue, Payroll Giving, and Gifts in Wills legacy programme. Supporting initiatives include Emergency Appeals for humanitarian crises, the Church Volunteer Network for community engagement, and The Big Quiz Night fundraising events. The organisation focuses on four key areas: Child Development, Modern Slavery prevention, Farming and Enterprise livelihoods, and Disasters and Conflict response. Approximately 70% of donations reach overseas projects, with operations managed through partnerships with local churches in 17 countries and Compassion International partners in 25 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Sponsorship Programme Long-term sponsorship programme operated in partnership with Compassion International, enabling New Zealanders to sponsor individual children in developing countries. Sponsorships are from $29 per fortnight and provide the child with education, healthcare, nutrition, character development, spiritual growth, and personal correspondence.
• World of Difference Monthly Giving Monthly pooled giving programme with approximately 1,500 NZ supporters who choose their own giving level ($5 to $100+ per month) and receive quarterly impact updates. Funds provide flexible, predictable support for Tearfund's global programmes.
• Gift for Life Catalogue Charity gift catalogue where donors purchase symbolic gifts ($10 to $600, e.g., chickens, goats, school kits) in honour of friends or loved ones who receive an e-card. Approximately 70% of proceeds reach overseas projects.
• Payroll Giving Pre-tax regular giving through employer payroll systems (including iPayroll), providing donors with an immediate 33.33 cent-per-dollar tax credit each pay period. Employers may match donations.
• Gifts in Wills (Legacy Giving) Legacy giving programme allowing supporters to leave residual, percentage, pecuniary, or specific bequests to Tearfund. Includes free online Will tools via partner GatheredHere, webinars, and downloadable guides.
• Emergency Appeals Time-limited fundraising campaigns for specific humanitarian crises and natural disasters, including the East Africa Hunger Crisis, Middle East Emergency, and Venezuela Earthquakes Appeal, channeling funds to local church partners.
• The Big Quiz Night Pre-packaged annual fundraising event where approximately 100 New Zealand churches host quiz nights using free resources provided by Tearfund to raise funds for overseas partner work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000 people's lives impacted
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Compassion InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTearfund NZ's primary child sponsorship partner. Compassion International operates church-based child development centres in 25 developing countries. Tearfund connects NZ sponsors with children in these programmes, which provide education, healthcare, nutrition, spiritual development, and career support from early childhood through early adulthood.
• Integral AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA global alliance of Christian relief and development agencies. Tearfund is a member, enabling shared learning, coordinated responses, and global best practices across the network of member organisations.
• Council for International Development (CID)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe peak body for international development NGOs in New Zealand. Tearfund is a member and adheres to CID's Code of Conduct. CID also provides an independent escalation channel for whistleblowing concerns about Tearfund's Board.
• Emergency AllianceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerA founding member of the Emergency Alliance — a collaborative initiative providing New Zealand donors with a single, trustworthy channel for international humanitarian emergencies. Tearfund is proud to be a founding member, positioning it as a trusted leader in disaster response fundraising.
• Unity4 (phone fundraising agency)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTearfund partners with specialist phone fundraising agency Unity4 to conduct outbound calling campaigns inviting people to support Tearfund through regular giving. Unity4 operates under strict data protection and privacy standards and calls from 09 9678610.
• GatheredHere (Online Will platform)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTearfund partners with GatheredHere to offer supporters a free, secure online Will-making tool. This supports Tearfund's legacy giving programme by lowering the barrier for supporters to include a bequest.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Compassion New Zealand: Compassion International's New Zealand/Australia arm operates the same church-based child sponsorship programme that Tearfund resells. Direct sibling in funding the same beneficiary model and arguably Tearfund's closest functional peer.
• World Vision New Zealand: World Vision NZ is a Christian international development and child sponsorship NGO with a similar church-based fundraising model, comparable donor-acquisition approach, and overlapping child-development and disaster-response focus.
• Oxfam New Zealand: Oxfam NZ is a large international development and humanitarian NGO raising funds from NZ donors for poverty alleviation, disaster response, and advocacy — competing directly for the same one-off and recurring donor segments.
• Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand: Caritas is the Catholic agency for justice, peace, and development in NZ. As a faith-based international development NGO with parishes, donations, and emergency appeals, it is a direct peer along the same channels.
• ChildFund New Zealand: ChildFund NZ is a child-focused international development NGO running child sponsorship programmes from NZ — a direct competitor for sponsorship dollars and faith-aligned donors.
• Save the Children New Zealand: Save the Children NZ is a major NZ-registered child-focused international development NGO with comparable child sponsorship, donation, and emergency appeal programmes, competing for the same donor and church audiences.

Others

• Tearfund UK: Tearfund UK is the founding Tearfund organisation and a brand sibling. While not a direct fundraising competitor in NZ, it is part of the loose global Tearfund family and shares programmatic DNA, branding, and Integral Alliance membership.

Regional players

• Baptist World Aid: Baptist World Aid is an Australian Baptist international aid NGO with a similar church-based fundraising model, child sponsorship, and advocacy focus — a regional peer sharing philosophy and donor-type but operating across the Tasman.
• CBM New Zealand: CBM (Christian Blind Mission) NZ is a faith-based international disability and development NGO with a similar church partnership and donor model, but narrower programmatic focus.

Broad incumbents

• New Zealand Red Cross: New Zealand Red Cross is a major humanitarian organisation with overlapping disaster response and emergency appeals, and a much larger general donor base and government contracts — a broad incumbent in the same fundraising space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/tearfundnz
• Facebookfacebook.com/tearfundnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tear-fund-new-zealand
• Instagraminstagram.com/tearfundnz/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 New Zealand