Governance
Tearfund Ireland is governed by the Board of Directors which is responsible for setting and monitoring the strategic direction, signing off on annual plans and budgets, establishing policy, monitoring compliance, and reviewing the outcomes of the statutory audit. The Board oversees all matters of governance, accountability, transparency, financial oversight and, ultimately, the achievement of strategic and programmatic goals.
A Corporate Governance Statement guides the Board in its role, and the functioning of the Board is monitored against this. The Directors are volunteers and receive no remuneration.
The Board operates four Committees, each having at least two Directors within its membership and has scheduled meetings through the year. The Board also has two advisory groups. Each of the committees and advisory groups are guided by a Terms of Reference.
Committees
- Audit and Risk Committee
- Development Committee
- Governance Committee
- Fundraising Committee
Advisory Groups
- Church Advisory Group (meets regularly)
- Theological Advisory Group (meets as needed)
Charities Governance Code
The Charities Regulator, the statutory regulator for all charities in Ireland, established the Charities Governance Code to help each charitable organisation meet its objectives with integrity and manage itself in an effective, accountable, and transparent manner.
Tearfund Ireland annually demonstrates compliance with the six guiding principles of the Charities Governance code.
Public Compliance Statement
- As a charity seeking donations from the public we aim to comply with the Charities Regulator’s Guidelines for Charitable Organisation on Fundraising from the Public
- Tearfund Ireland is committed to complying with the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public and has formally discussed and adopted the Guidelines at a meeting of the governing body.
- Tearfund Ireland confirms its commitment to the principles set out in the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public by a statement to that effect in its annual report.
- Tearfund Ireland has a Donor Charter which is consistent with the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public,
- Tearfund Ireland regularly monitors compliance with the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public.
- Tearfund Ireland considers the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public when planning all fundraising activity.
- Tearfund Ireland has a policy on working with third party fundraisers (when applicable).
- Tearfund Ireland provides honest, open, accountable and transparent disclosure when fundraising from the public.
- Tearfund Ireland has appointed a senior member of staff to be responsible for compliance with the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public.
- Tearfund Ireland ensures that fundraising staff are provided with information and training on the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public and its implementation.
- Tearfund Ireland has a feedback and complaints procedure consistent with the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public. Feedback is recorded for review by relevant staff including the Chief Executive Officer. Feedback and complaints are responded to promptly and appropriately.
- Tearfund Ireland prepares financial reports consistent with the requirements of the Charities Act 2009 and the Charities Regulator which include a statement concerning the extent to which control of the organisation is independent of its funding sources.
- Tearfund Ireland ensures that all donations are tracked and recorded and complies with data protection requirements.
- Tearfund Ireland is accessible to the public through a number of readily available contact options.
Annual & Financial Reports
Where Your Money Goes
Tearfund Ireland uses its finances effectively and is committed to keeping organisational costs as low as possible. This is made possible through the support of enthusiastic volunteers who raise funds, pray, work in our office and share our vision with others. The Board of Directors is committed to ensuring organisational costs remain within acceptable levels while also investing in the continued development of the organisation.
Codes & Standards
Safeguarding
We are committed to protecting from harm the young people with whom we work. We operate in adherence to the principles of the Children First Act 2015 and Child Safeguarding, a Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice 2018, as well as our Tearfund Ireland policies, to mitigate the risk of harm. You can read our Child Safeguarding Statement and our Declaration of Guiding Principles. We also adhere to our policy on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment.
Professional Standards
Tearfund Ireland operate to a range of international standards.
We are a signatory to the Code of Conduct to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief. This means that our aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated based on need alone.
We are members of the CHS Alliance and align our work with the nine principles of the Core Humanitarian Standard.
We maintain our financial statements in accordance with charity SORP.
We are members of Dóchas, an umbrella body of Irish development charities and signatories to the Dochás Charter which incorporates the ‘Ethical Guide to Communication’ and ‘Safeguarding Code’. Further, we have contributed to, and hold as a standard, the ‘Integral Alliance Story Teller’s Guide’.
We are members of IDEA and are signatories to the Code of Good Practice for Development Education. Members of this Code commit to strengthening their Development Education practice through an annual self-assessment process.
We maintain compliance with the Tearfund Family Reputational Standards.
Comhlámh Code of Good Practice
We are Solidarity Partners of Comhlamh supporting the Code of Good practice. It is a set of standards for Irish Volunteer Sending Agencies facilitating international placements. The Code is based on a vision of volunteers working in solidarity for a just, equitable and sustainable world. It promotes responsible and responsive volunteering to ensure a positive impact for the overseas project and community, the volunteer and the sending agency.
FAQs
How can I support Tearfund Irelands Work?
We couldn’t do the work we do without the incredible support of people throughout Ireland and diaspora overseas. We are hugely grateful for this support. There are many ways to get involved
How will my donation be used?
Your donation will be used to support the work we do. The staff of Tearfund Ireland, overseen by the Board, tightly control our administrative costs for the effective management of the charity and the ongoing funding of the projects. The organisation has strong governance, is audited by external auditors, reports annually to the Companies Registration Office as well as the Charities Regulator, and remains compliant with the Charities Governance Code.
What salary is paid to your Key Management Personnel?
The gross pay to the Key Management Personnel for the financial year ending 31st March 2025 was €69,000 plus 7% pension contribution. There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than €70,000
How many people work in Tearfund Ireland?
Seven employees in Dublin, two of whom are part-time. Two employees in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.
How many countries do you work in?
Tearfund Ireland has ongoing projects in Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Lebanon; where we work alongside trusted partners who implement the project activities. In addition, we will support other projects as we are able and where we can add value through local partners. We also fundraise for humanitarian responses as the need arises.
Where is your headquarters?
Our registered office, and our main place of work, is in Dublin, Ireland. We also have two staff working from an office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Do you pay tops ups or bonuses
No.
Does any of my donation go to governments overseas?
No.
Does Tearfund Ireland engage in on-street fundraising?
No.
Who are the Board of trustees? Do they get paid? How are they appointed?
The Board is responsible for the strategic direction of Tearfund Ireland – holding the ethos and vision, signing off annual plans and budgets, and reviewing the outcomes of the statutory audit.
Members of the Board are not paid. The directors are also trustees of the charity.
Directors are appointed by the members at the Annual General Meeting and are selected based on criteria established in the Board’s Terms of Reference. The Board may also appoint a director to serve until the next Annual General Meeting, at which time he or she would cease to hold office but would be eligible for election. For more, see About Us / Our Team / Our Board.
Feedback & Complaints
Tearfund Ireland is committed to maintaining the highest standard of professionalism throughout our work. We listen and respond to the views of the public, our supporters, partners and project participants so we can continue to improve. We commit to resolving any queries or complaints as quickly as possible.
If you have feedback
Tearfund Ireland welcomes feedback or suggestions which will help us improve. If you have any feedback, we would love to hear from you. All comments will be brought to the person with responsibility for that area who will respond to your communication within 7 working days.
If you have a complaint
Tearfund Ireland also welcomes your complaint. Hearing from you in this way will help us identify where we’ve fallen short, address the matter and improve the way we work. Overall, we aim to ensure that:
- it is as easy as possible to make a complaint;
- any clear expression of dissatisfaction with our operations which calls for a response is treated as a complaint;
- we treat a complaint seriously and address it quickly, professionally and politely;
- we learn from complaints, use them to improve, and monitor them at Board level.
- we handle all data in accordance with the GDPR and our data protection policy.
(Step One) Making a complaint
If you have a complaint about any aspect of our work, you can contact our office in writing or by telephone (details below). Please give us as much information as possible and let us know how you would like us to respond to you, providing relevant contact details.
Go to our Contact Us and select ‘Problem / Complaint’ from the drop down menu
By Phone: 01 878 3200
By Letter: FAO: Chief Executive Officer,
Tearfund Ireland, 2nd Floor, Ulysses House, 22-24 Foley Street, Dublin 1, D01 W2T2
What happens next?
If you make a complaint in person or over the phone, we will endeavour to resolve the issue there and then. If you submit a complaint by email or in writing, we will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 4 working days and do everything we can to resolve the matter within 14 working days. If this is not possible, we will explain why and provide a new time-frame within which we will respond.
(Step Two) What if the complaint is not resolved?
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may get in touch again by writing to Tearfund Ireland Chair of the Board. The Chairperson will ensure that your appeal is considered at Board level, at the earliest opportunity, and will respond within 14 working days of this consideration by the Board.
Whistle Blowing
If any staff member of our partner organisation, any beneficiary of our work or Tearfund Ireland employee, volunteer or Trustee becomes aware of, or concerned about, the possibility of wrongdoing in Tearfund Ireland, this should be reported in confidence to either the:
CEO of Tearfund Ireland
or
Chair of Governance Committee or Chair of Audit & Risk Committee
Directly to this email: whistleblowing@tearfund.ie
All concerns raised will be taken seriously and handled in confidence. All issues will be investigated and actions will be taken in accordance with Tearfund Ireland policies.
Charities Regulator
Tearfund Ireland is committed to remain compliant with the Charities Governance Code. If you wish to raise a complaint to the Charities Regulator, you can contact their offices at the details below:
01 633 1550
