Frequently asked questions

Can I send you my CV?

Unfortunately, we’re not able to accept applications to work at Tearfund based on a CV alone. You’re very welcome to have a look at our jobs page and see if there is a vacancy that interests you. If you don’t find anything suitable at the moment, you can register your interest by signing up for job alerts in the future.

Can I do work experience at Tearfund?

We can occasionally organise work experience placements. To explore the possibility, please contact our recruitment team recruitment@tearfund.org with a copy of your CV and a short message telling us a little about yourself and what you would like to do for us. We would love to know if there are issues or areas of Tearfund’s work that are of particular interest.

Do Tearfund run an internship or graduate scheme?

Our internship schemes run from September until May/June of the following year with placement opportunities available in specific teams across the organisation. There are opportunities in a number of different areas, focusing on both international and UK-based aspects of our work. We recruit for interns between May and August each year and you’ll find full details on our website during this period. However, do also register your interest via our jobs page to receive email alerts whenever we post new vacancies online.

Can I apply for funding from Tearfund?

Unfortunately, due to limitations on Tearfund’s resources, we are presently focusing on building the capacity of our current partners. We are, therefore, not currently able to accept applications for organisational or individual funding. We are also unable to give details of any other sources of funding at present.

Although unable to help with funding, we do like to share our information and experience with those who are interested in development issues around the world. You can view and download all of our development resources by visiting Tearfund Learn.

I’m doing some research – can you help?

As we receive a number of requests for assistance as part of research projects, we are unfortunately not always able to provide individual assistance. However, you might find Tearfund Learn a great place to start. Here we share our learning from more than 45 years of involvement in development work worldwide.

Can I donate items such as clothing and blankets?

We have found that it is best to get supplies either in-country or from neighbouring countries, rather than accepting gifts in kind. This saves us a lot of time and money because we don’t have to collect, pack, or ship the required items. It also means that we can provide culturally-appropriate supplies. We prefer, therefore, to offer financial help to our partners so they can purchase supplies themselves – this also supports the local economy.

I’ve seen that you’re responding to a recent disaster – how can I help?

Thank you for wanting to help. You can be involved by making a financial gift towards the current emergencies we are responding to, which are listed on our giving page.

You can also help by praying for our partners who are working in these areas.

It is possible to give more generally towards our disaster response work, which enables us to store up essential supplies and also build the capacity of our partners. This means we can respond instantly or even before a disaster hits. The rapid onset of disaster situations means it is often difficult to predict and respond to the needs which arise. By giving to this area of our work, you’re helping us to respond swiftly and save lives when disaster strikes.

We do not send out volunteers to aid with these situations, but instead, aim to support our partners already based in the area. In the midst of such terrible situations, we would not wish to exacerbate the challenges facing those undertaking reconstruction work – lack of available accommodation, electricity, water and sanitation – by sending out volunteers.

How do you decide ‘where the need is greatest’?

We decide which countries to work in using internationally recognised indicators of poverty to inform our choices. To find out more about the countries where our partners are meeting material and spiritual needs, visit our About page.

We understand that there are many needs across the world and many places where people are still living in poverty. Tearfund has to make some very hard decisions about how to use the limited financial resources that are entrusted to us and it is not possible for us to support every country.

I have received an email from Tearfund asking for my bank details - is this genuine?

We will never ask you to send us your bank account details by email. Any email from Tearfund asking for financial support for our work will take you to our website beginning with https://www.tearfund.org. Any page on our website which asks for your bank account or card details will be secure - your web browser should show that the page is secure, often by showing a padlock or green “Secure”. If you have any questions at all or if you are in any way concerned about whether a communication from us is genuine, then please call our Supporter Care team on 020 3906 3906 and we will be happy to help you.

I’ve received a call from Tearfund – is it genuine?

We do like to call our supporters from time to time, primarily to keep them up to date with what we’re doing and to thank them for their support. We occasionally do take the opportunity to ask whether they would consider increasing their support of our work. If the supporter would like to make a donation, or to set up a regular gift, then it will be necessary for the caller to ask for your bank details. If you are concerned/feel that the call may not be genuine, or you’re uncomfortable with providing this information over the phone, please do call our Supporter Care team on 020 3906 3906, and they will be more than happy to help. If you’d prefer that we don’t contact you by phone going forward, then please notify us by calling the the Supporter Care team, or emailing info@tearfund.org.

Our calling lists are screened against the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). We do not call anyone who has signed up to TPS, unless they have previously provided consent to use that number for marketing purposes.

How often will you contact by post or email?

We try to ensure that all our correspondence is tailored to your requests, so the type and number of mailings you receive depends on what you have requested or agreed to. Our magazine, Tear Times, is sent out three times a year, and our mailings regarding emergencies and disasters are sent out as and when there is a crisis. If you would like to change the type or number of mailings/emails you receive, you can call us on 020 3906 3906 or email info@tearfund.org – we would be more than happy to help!

Why haven’t I received a Created Gifts catalogue?

After nearly 40 years of pioneering sales of fairly traded products Created Gifts, previously known as Tearcraft, drew trading to a close in 2014. Since 1975, when the business was launched, we have seen consumer awareness grow with fair trade items now available on the UK high street. We're very proud of the part we had to play in this.

Can I contact you on behalf of someone else?

You are welcome to contact us on behalf of someone who has asked you to do so. There are some changes that we’re able to make without hearing directly from the supporter themself; for instance we can amend the frequency of news and appeals that we send. However we’re not able to make changes to an individual’s giving, or share any of their financial information or history, without speaking to the supporter themself (even if it’s just for them to say that they’re happy for us to talk to you about it) or unless we see a Power of Attorney document.

I have Power of Attorney for one of your supporters

If you are the Power of Attorney for one of our supporters, please do let us know by sending us written evidence of the Power of Attorney; this can be a scan or email version. When we receive this information we can record it on the supporter’s record to ensure that you’re free to make any necessary changes to their records in future.

How can I give a gift to Tearfund?

The Giving section of our website gives information on how you can make a secure donation online or set up a regular Direct Debit to Tearfund. Please note: giving online reduces our processing costs by 25 per cent compared with a phone or postal donation.

To give by credit or debit card over the phone please call Supporter Enquiries on 020 3906 3906.

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, most of our staff are working from home at the moment, in accordance with current government guidelines. We are so thankful for your continued support and would encourage you to give via the website or by phone wherever possible. If you give by cheque, CAF or Stewardship voucher, there may be a delay in banking and acknowledging your donation. Please accept our apologies for this.

We can take gifts from Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and CAF cards. Gifts from Maestro and CAF cards can be made over the telephone only. You can also give to Tearfund using the CAF website. We are unable to accept American Express, Diners Club, Solo or Visa Electron cards. For security reasons please do not send your credit/debit card details by e-mail.

Giving by Maestro card

We are not able to take payments using a Maestro card online currently.

You can give by Maestro card by calling us on 020 3906 3906, Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm

How do I set up a Direct Debit to Tearfund?

By giving through World of Difference your money goes to projects that are supporting people where the need is greatest. All our projects help empower people to lift themselves out of poverty, whether that is giving them access to clean water and safe sanitation or helping children to overcome malnutrition. Your gift will transform lives.

What are Tearfund's bank details?

It is most cost-effective for Tearfund if you are able to give via the website. However if you are making a one-off gift to Tearfund by bank transfer, please remember to quote your Tearfund supporter number when making the gift, so that we can identify your gift and ensure it is allocated correctly to your record. Please do contact us (020 3906 3906, info@tearfund.org) if you need to know your Tearfund supporter number.

If you are setting up a Standing Order to Tearfund we would be very grateful if you could contact us first (020 3906 3906, info@tearfund.org), to ensure that we have your bank details, and a reference number to quote to your bank with each Standing Order payment. This will help us greatly in identifying your gifts, and allocating them correctly to your record. Otherwise it is likely that the gifts will come to us anonymously, meaning that we cannot reclaim tax on the donations, we would not be able to thank you for them and we would not be able to trace the gifts should a query arise.

Tearfund's account details are:

Main Bank account - Sterling £
Account number: 5380 3058
Sort code: 20-00-00
Account name: Tearfund
Address: Barclays Bank, 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP
IBAN No: GB65BARC 2000 0053 8030 58

For supporters in the USA, or in a country using the Euro, please refer to the separate accounts below

Account for gifts in US$ only
Barclays Bank
1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP
Account Name: Tearfund
Account No: 65468955
Swift Code: BARCGB22
IBAN No: GB22BARC 2000 0065 4689 55

Account for gifts in Euros only
Barclays Bank
1 Churchill Place, London. E14 5HP
Account Name: Tearfund
Account No: 84014388
Swift Code: BARCGB22
IBAN: GB38BARC 2000 0084 0143 88