Frequently Asked Questions
About Project Compassion
What is Project Compassion?
Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion invites you to Unite Against Poverty this Lent.
As Caritas Australia’s largest annual fundraising campaign, Project Compassion mobilises Australians to raise much-needed funds to help alleviate poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the world.
Held during Lent, the six-week period before Easter, Catholic schools, parishes, and the wider Australian public participate in a diverse range of fundraising and awareness raising activities and events to support Caritas Australia’s programs both overseas and here in Australia with our First Australian partners.
Project Compassion is an extraordinary demonstration of the faith, empathy and generosity of our supporters. It is the lifeblood of Caritas Australia; without it, we could not do the vital work that we do.
When did Project Compassion begin?
The first national appeal for overseas aid was held in 1965. This initiative drew inspiration from Lenten appeals at a Parish and diocesan level in Adelaide the two previous years. The Australian Bishops agreed to a proposal for a nationwide appeal while in Rome for Vatican II in late 1964.
A pastoral letter was drafted by the Episcopal Committee for Overseas Relief (the forerunner of Caritas), to be signed by each bishop, calling on all Catholic families to donate any money saved in Lent through self-denial to poverty relief. That year, over £50,000 was raised.
Roy Boylan, president of the Sydney Diocesan committee for Catholic Overseas Relief, proposed calling the Sydney appeal Project Compassion in mid-1965. The name was adopted nationally and in 1966 the national Lenten appeal was rolled out as Project Compassion.
Since its inception in 1965, Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion has raised over 390 million dollars to support some of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the world.
What is Project Compassion’s mission?
This Lent, Project Compassion calls on all Australians to Unite Against Poverty. By coming together, we can make a powerful impact, supporting Caritas Australia's mission to end poverty and create a world where all people can live with dignity and equality.
Join us in this journey of compassion and solidarity.
Fundraising & Banking
Can I donate to a specific country or program featured in Project Compassion?
Donations made through Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion are not country or program specific. The three stories featured in Project Compassion 2025 are examples of our ongoing, long-term development programs in some of the regions we work in. Your contribution will go towards supporting people where the need is greatest.
Project Compassion also supports our emergency responses to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. The general emergency response fund that is in part funded by Project Compassion means that we can respond immediately to any emergency ahead of receiving funds through a dedicated emergency appeal.
Where does my money go?
At Caritas Australia, we pride ourselves on having one of the lowest administration rates in the sector.
- 78% of funds are spent on implementing Local and International Programs, including important education and advocacy in Australia to amplify the voice of our partners.
- 15% of funds are spent on Fundraising, so that we can maintain and expand the scope of our humanitarian and development partnerships and work across the globe.
- 7% of funds are spent on infrastructure, systems and people that make the work we do possible.
How do I make a self-donation?
Sponsoring yourself to kickstart your Project Compassion fundraising is a great way for you to get started with your fundraising. It will not only show your supporters that you're committed to the cause, but you will have also broken the ice by going first!
AND – for the first time ever, this Project Compassion we’re offering some great incentives when you make a self-donation of $20 or more!
Simply head to your own dashboard, and select 'donate' to make a self-donation and kickstart your fundraising!
Are my donations to Caritas Australia tax deductible?
Yes. All donations of $2.00 and over are tax deductible and you/your supporters will receive a tax-deductible receipt via email.
How do I receive donations?
Our brilliant new fundraising platform will make fundraising and receiving donations a breeze!
The platform allows you to sign up, download handy fundraising resources from your dashboard, share your page via social media, ask for donations, and collect donations - without having to handle any cash! Head over to your Dashboard to access numerous resources and start your fundraising today!
How do I ask people to donate to my fundraiser?
Fundraising for the first time can feel daunting, but don’t worry—your friends and family will want to support you because this cause matters to you! The number one reason people donate is simply because they were asked, so don’t be afraid to reach out. When you’re setting up your fundraising page, personalize it by sharing why Project Compassion is important to you.
Then, share your page with friends, family, and colleagues through social media, email, or messaging apps.
How do I share my fundraising page?
You can easily share your fundraising page through your dashboard or by simply copying and sharing the URL.
What if I want to cancel my fundraising page?
That's ok, we understand that things come up!
Just get in touch and we can remove your fundraising page from the campaign. Email us at - ProjectCompassion@caritas.org.au
I’ve forgotten my username and/or password, what do I do?
If you’re trying to log in but you can't remember your password, (it happens to the best of us!) click on the 'Forgot password?' link on the log in screen.
Enter your email address and we’ll send you a link to reset your password.
What is my personal QR code and how do I use it?
Once you’ve registered for Project Compassion, you will be able to download your unique QR code which can be used to collect cashless donations for your fundraiser. To access your QR code, simply log in to your Raisely dashboard and download it directly from there.
Your QR code is perfect for printing on posters or flyers—supporters can scan it with their phones and will be taken straight to your online fundraising page to donate!
How do I bank the funds raised for Project Compassion?
Great question! You can bank your contributions via:
- Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer:
Deposit any cash and cheques into Caritas Australia’s bank account using your deposit book and Supporter ID. Please confirm you are using the correct Commonwealth Bank account details before depositing and then send through your remittance so we can thank you!
- Cheques:
Send or deposit cheques payable to Caritas Australia as early as possible after Lent. Ensure cheques are only receipted by Caritas Australia.
- Credit Card:
Send all credit card donations and forms directly to Caritas Australia for processing.
If you would prefer to make your donation via credit card, please call our Supporter Services Team on 1800 024 413 who will take your donation over the phone.
What is the deadline for submitting our funds raised?
To ensure that all contributions can be effectively distributed to support Caritas Australia's life-changing programs, we kindly ask that all funds raised for Project Compassion 2025 please be submitted to us by the 31st of May 2025. This allows us time to process and allocate the funds before the end of the financial year.
Your timely contributions help us to act quickly in providing support for the communities that need it most. Thank you for your support in our mission.
Someone gave me cash/a cheque, what do I do?
In a world that’s moving away from 'cash' - we recognise that you are still bound to receive some donations of support in the form of cash or cheques - if you do - don't stress!
All you need to do, is deposit the monies into your personal bank account, and once the funds have settled - make the donation to yourself online on behalf of the person who supported you. This eliminates any need to post cash in the mail (as this is unsafe) and also allows you to ensure your donor receives a tax-deductible receipt.
Any questions regarding this - feel free to give us a call on (02) 7254 5120!
For Schools
How do I sign my school up for Project Compassion?
Signing up your school for Project Compassion is nice and easy!!
1. Search for your school in the search bar
2. Select - activate your school profile - for teachers
3. Fill in your personal details, customise why your school is fundraising, and set your fundraising goal
4. Create teams or classes for your students to join (only you as a teacher can set up teams!)
5. Share your fundraising page with your school community to encourage support!
6. Start fundraising!
Once signed up - you will automatically be taken to your fundraising dashboard to start fundraising!
You'll receive some information from us along the way, with helpful hints, tips and resources to maximise your fundraising efforts, so make sure we have the correct email address for you!
Can I sign up multiple children with the same email?
Every student/participant who registers needs to have a unique email address.
An easy way to do this is to use your email address + an alias for each sign up.
For example, if your email is jenny@gmail.com, you could use:
jenny+child1@gmail.com OR
jenny+child2@gmail.com
This will create a unique email for each but will direct all emails to your original address (ie. jenny@gmail.com)
A friendly reminder, that if you're signing up multiple people for a fundraiser, you will need to make sure you LOGOUT of your account before registering your next participant.
As a teacher, how do I create teams?
Creating fundraising teams is a great way to encourage students to fundraise with their class groups or houses!
As the organiser for your school - you are the only one that can create teams for your students and parents to join.
You can create teams from your Dashboard, and toggling to 'My Organisation' scroll down and select 'CREATE A TEAM' to get started.
Some recommendations for creating teams below:
- We recommend making your team names nice and easy to recognise, so that people can search, find and join their team easily!
- When you create a team, you do not need to join the team, you will automatically be added as a team member
- Share your team from your dashboard by clicking 'invite people to join'
If you're creating more than 15 teams within your school, feel free to reach out to the Community Fundraising Team and we can help set these up for you!
Email us at projectcompassion@caritas.org.au
How do I access my school’s Project Compassion resources without a USB?
In line with Caritas Australia’s commitment to sustainability and our Laudato Si’ Action Plan, we’ve replaced USBs with digital downloads to reduce waste. All Project Compassion resources are now quick and easy to download at projectcompassion.org.au
If you’re signed up for our emails, you’ll also receive the link directly in your inbox.
Need help? Our team is here for you! Simply reply to one of our emails (or emails us at: ProjectCompassion@caritas.org.au) or call us at (02) 7254 5120, and we’ll guide you through the process. If you don’t have a strong internet connection, call us, and we’ll find a solution that works for you.
I need more resources for my school. What can I do?
Whilst we encourage schools to fundraise online, we do have some tangible resources for use in your school.
We have limited stock, but please call us on (02) 7254 5210 and speak to the community fundraising team to see how they can help. Or send us an email at: ProjectCompassion@caritas.org.au
What is The BIG Water Walk for schools? And is it different to Caritas K’s?
We’re excited to announce that Caritas K’s has undergone an exciting transformation and will now be known as: The Big Water Walk!
While the name may be new, the heart of the initiative remains exactly the same. This new form aims to refresh our efforts to raise awareness and most importantly funds for vulnerable communities to access clean and safe water, but the mission continues with the same spirit, energy, and purpose that we’ve come to know and love.
Your school’s Big Water Walk can be done as laps of the school oval, at a local park or in a circuit around the school. You might even like to add carrying water as part of your Big Water Walk event.
However far your school walks, the funds you raise will help change the lives of people around the world.
Can my school host more than one event?
Absolutely, yes!
We encourage schools to go all out and host as many events as they can at school throughout Lent to support Project Compassion. Whether it’s a bake sale, mufti day, sausage sizzle with a gold coin collection: every event you host brings us closer to real change.
Get creative, rally your whole school community, and let’s make a powerful impact together as we Unite Against Poverty this Lent.
What is a Caritas Q&A session, and how can I book my class/school in for one?
Caritas Q and A's are 30-minute sessions hosted by Caritas Australia on Zoom. The sessions are a unique opportunity for students to connect with Caritas-supported programs and to learn more about the impact of their generous donations. Sessions are open to students in Years 4–12 and are available across all time zones.
How does it work?
- Caritas Q and A's run across Lent during the school term and will focus on a different Project Compassion story and program.
Help prepare your students for a Caritas Q and A by:
• Showing them the relevant Project Compassion video
• Working through our Project Compassion school resources or relevant social justice resources
• Guiding them to create a question to ask Caritas staff
How do I register for a Caritas Q and A session?
To register your class in the session that suits you - click the link below:
Caritas Q and A Sessions Or visit: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/caritas-q-a/
We would like a Caritas Australia staff member to come and speak at our school during Lent – who can I speak to about this?
Having a Caritas Australia staff member speak at your school during Lent is a great way to inspire students and deepen their understanding of the important work the Caritas network does in Australia and internationally.
Students will benefit by learning about social justice issues, exploring how their actions can make a difference, and connecting with the themes of Lent through real-world examples.
To request a visit or find out more, please email us at ProjectCompassion@caritas.org.au
*Please note, while we will make every effort to accommodate all requests for speakers, we unfortunately cannot guarantee availability for every request
For Parishes
How do I sign up my Parish for Project Compassion?
Signing up your parish for Project Compassion is nice and easy!!
1. Find your parish in the search bar
2. Select - activate your parish profile - for parish reps
3. Fill in your personal details, customise why your parish is fundraising, and set your fundraising goal
4. Create teams for parishioners to join (only you as a parish rep can set up teams!)
5. Share your fundraising page with your parish to encourage support!
6. Start fundraising!
Once signed up - you will automatically be taken to your fundraising dashboard to start fundraising!
You'll receive some information from us along the way, with helpful hints, tips and resources to maximise your fundraising efforts, so make sure we have the correct email address for you!
How do I create Teams?
As the parish rep - you are the only one that can create teams for your parishioners to join. You can create teams from your Dashboard, and toggling to 'My Organisation' scroll down and select 'CREATE A TEAM' to get started.
Some recommendations for creating teams below:
- We recommend making your team names nice and easy to recognise, so that people can search, find and join their team easily!
- When you create a team, you do not need to join the team, you will automatically be added as a team member
- Share your team by clicking 'invite people to join'
If you're creating more than 15 teams, please email the Community Fundraising team at projectcompassion@caritas.org.au and we can help set these up for you!
I need more resources for my parish. What do I do?
Whilst we encourage parishes to fundraise online, we do have some tangible resources for use in your parish. We have limited stock, but please call us on (02) 7254 5210 and speak to the community fundraising team to see how they can help.
How do I use the new Project Compassion donation envelopes at my parish?
As you know, we’ve simplified Project Compassion’s donation envelopes, by moving to one weekly donation envelope. Here’s how we recommend you use them:
- Distribute weekly: Place envelopes in the pews or at the entrance before each Mass, this same envelope should also be used during your Easter services.
- Encourage donations: Remind parishioners about the impact that their contributions make.
- Collect envelopes: Consider holding a second collection during Mass specifically for Project Compassion to gather envelopes.
- Submit donations: After collecting donations each week, store them securely and ensure all envelopes are sent to Caritas Australia by 31 May 2025.
We understand this change may take some adjusting in the first year. If you run out of envelopes, let us know, and we’ll do our best to send more if we have them in stock. Thank you for your ongoing support during this transition!
How do I book in a parish talk?
Parish talk requests aren't currently available.
What if we want to host a Big Water Walk for our Parish?
You absolutely can!
While this year’s Big Water Walk resources are focused specifically for our schools, we warmly encourage parishes to get involved and host a Big Water Walk with your parish community!
Give us a call on (02) 7254 5120 and we can chat with you about how to make it a success!
How do I download my parish Project Compassion resources now that I don’t have a USB?
As part of Caritas Australia’s ongoing commitment to caring for our common home, and in line with our Laudato Si’ Action plan, we’ve made an important change in how we will share Project Compassion resources with you this year, and moving forward.
To reduce waste and support sustainability, we’re no longer offering USBs. Instead, all of our Project Compassion resources are now quick and easy to download!
Simply visit the Caritas Australia website to download everything you need!
*You will also receive this link via email if you are signed up for our emails.
What resources do you have that can help my parish make the most of Project Compassion this Lent?
Our parish resources are designed to enrich your community's’ Lenten journey, helping us to reflect on God’s blessings, deepen our faith, and inspire almsgiving. Let us help you make Project Compassion a meaningful and transformative season for your parish community.
We have prayers, reflections, liturgies, Pilgrim guides and so much more. These resources will help to guide your community from Ash Wednesday through to Holy Week – helping to deepen reflection and connection in this sacred season.
For Individuals, Groups and Organisations
How can corporate groups, businesses or workplaces get involved with Project Compassion?
Getting involved in Project Compassion is simple, impactful, and a wonderful way to show your company’s commitment to social justice.
Below are some ways you can Unite Against Poverty this Lent:
- You could simply pop a Project Compassion box on your reception desk.
Or – why not sign up for one of our challenges or events?
- Host a Lent Event
Bring a sense of community into your workplace by registering to hold a fundraising event in your office. You can choose any event you like, a Pancake Tuesday, a morning tea, wear your brightest clothes on Friday or create a unique event that suits your business.
- Give it up for Lent
Challenge yourself this year and turn your Lenten sacrifice into a force for change. Together, with your colleagues, why not give up something BIG like junk food, Netflix or your team coffee (it can be anything you choose), all to create positive change for those living in poverty.
- The Long Walk for Water
Join The Long Walk for Water and challenge yourself and your colleagues to walk at least 30 minutes a day, and help vulnerable communities around the world access clean drinking water.
Can our business sponsor Project Compassion?
Yes, we’d love to discuss sponsorship opportunities with you!
Sponsoring Project Compassion can help your business make a meaningful impact while engaging your team and demonstrating your commitment to social justice.
Please call us on (02) 7254 5120 – we'd love to hear from you!
Do you provide promotional materials or resources for corporates?
Absolutely!
We can provide posters, information brochures, donation boxes, ZOOM backgrounds, digital assets, fundraising guides and so much more!
Send us an email on projectcompassion@caritas.org.au, and we’d love to help get you set up!
Can we invite someone from Caritas Australia to speak at our workplace?
Help your team understand the impact of Project Compassion by inviting a Caritas Australia representative to speak at your workplace. A guest speaker can:
- Share inspiring stories of the communities we work with.
- Highlight the difference your support makes.
- Motivate your team to get involved
Email us at – projectcompassion.org.au to arrange a speaker.
*Please note, while we will make every effort to accommodate all requests for speakers, we unfortunately cannot guarantee availability for every request.
Contact us!
I’d like to get in touch with my local Diocesan Director (DD) - how can I get in touch with them?
Have questions or need support? Your local Diocesan Director is here to help. You can connect with them here!.
For any fundraising-specific queries, our friendly Project Compassion team is just a reply away! You can also give us a call on (02) 7254 5120.
I’m not receiving emails about Project Compassion – how can I sign up to emails to make sure I don’t miss any important updates?
No worries, we can help!
Just send us an email at projectcompassion@caritas.org.au, and we’ll make sure you're added to our mailing list so you don’t miss out on any important updates or news about Project Compassion.
I have some feedback I’d like to share with the Project Compassion team, who can I speak to?
At Caritas Australia, we really value your feedback!
Feedback helps us to improve and continue making a meaningful impact. You can share your feedback by emailing our team at projectcompassion@caritas.org.au or giving us a ring on (02) 7254 5120.
There will also be a survey after Project Compassion wraps up, keep an eye out in your inbox!
