The Giving Machine

The Giving Machine (TGM) is a unique UK-based cashback charity company that allows users to donate to their favorite causes without any cost to their wallet. By running affiliate programs, TGM facilitated donations through cashback generated by users, making charitable giving easy and accessible.

https://www.thegivingmachine.co.uk

Challenges

TGM faced several challenges that required immediate attention:

Financial Constraints: As a charity, TGM operated under tight financial conditions, making large-scale refactoring projects difficult to execute in one go.

Technical Debt: Over time, the browser extension accumulated significant technical debt, leading to performance issues and security vulnerabilities.

Outdated Technology Stack: The extension’s technology stack had become outdated, necessitating a comprehensive overhaul.

Our Approach

Technical Evaluation and Strategic Planning

Our initial evaluation revealed the extent of the technical debt and the obsolescence of the technology stack. We formulated a comprehensive refactoring and update plan to modernize the extension, ensuring it was secure, efficient, and future-proof.

Phased Refactoring to Accommodate Budget Constraints

Understanding TGM’s financial limitations, we proposed a phased approach to the refactoring process. By breaking the project into manageable chunks, we were able to spread the costs over time, allowing TGM to maintain financial stability while still achieving the necessary updates.

Implementation and Innovation

We rebuilt the extension using up-to-date technologies, significantly improving its performance and security. In collaboration with the TGM team, we also integrated new features that aligned with their evolving needs. Leveraging our experience, we suggested additional enhancements to further optimize the extension’s functionality and user experience.

Results

The project’s outcomes were highly successful:

• Modernized Extension: The browser extension was fully rebuilt with the latest technologies, eliminating technical debt and enhancing security.
• Improved User Experience: New features and our suggested improvements resulted in a more robust and user-friendly extension.
• Sustained Charity Operations: The phased approach allowed TGM to continue its operations without financial disruption, ensuring ongoing support for their charitable mission.
• Long-term partnership: Cupcake Development has supported TGM and its mission for 5 years.

Overall, our collaboration with The Giving Machine demonstrates how strategic planning and technical expertise can overcome challenges, even under financial constraints.