Build vs Buy: How EarthShare took ownership of their giving platform

The challenge

EarthShare is a leading environmental philanthropy organization that operates a donor-advised fund (DAF), fiscal sponsorship, and workplace giving programs, enabling donors, financial advisors, and organizations to deploy capital into high-impact environmental strategies and solutions.

EarthShare had started with a white-label software product. But as their ambitions grew, so did the limitations of that approach. Vendor lock-in meant limited control over the product roadmap and a ceiling on what the platform could become. The decision was made to build rather than buy new software, and to invest in a platform they fully owned on their terms.

That search brought them to Tinkso. What stood out was a combination of strong credentials and commercial flexibility that made the engagement accessible without compromising on quality. For EarthShare, it was the right partner at the right moment.

“It wasn’t just that Tinkso was highly rated and clearly competent; it was the way they approached the engagement. Their flexibility and creativity towards this project impressed us. That sealed it.”

— Guy Derry, EarthShare

What Tinkso built

Tinkso took on the development and ongoing evolution of the EarthShare platform, building the infrastructure needed to run a fully-owned DAF product. While Tinkso has its roots in the low-code and no-code space, the team has grown into a sophisticated custom software agency, capable of crafting solutions that go well beyond what any single platform or tool can offer. That breadth was put to work here.

The work spans complex financial integrations, a third-party disbursement engine for grant distributions, and a delivery model that keeps progress structured and accountable. The platform supports sophisticated functionality: donor onboarding, fund management, grant discovery across millions of recipient organizations, and disbursement processing.

Key deliverables:

• Fully custom-built DAF platform with complete product ownership
• Third-party disbursement engine integration for grant distributions
• Donor onboarding, fund management, and grant discovery functionality
• Ongoing platform development and maintenance

Working with Tinkso

At Tinkso, responsive and proactive service isn’t a differentiator, it’s the standard. The team brings genuine technical depth and a collaborative approach that EarthShare has found both reliable and refreshing. Issues get resolved quickly. Pushback happens when it should. And the team ensures alignment on architectural decisions before moving forward.

“They’re very good. They push back when necessary, they suggest creative alternatives, and they make sure we’re aligned on the implications before we move. That kind of collaborative dialogue is what makes the relationship work.”

Project management is handled transparently, so everyone always knows what’s happening and when. When issues arise, they’re handled. The EarthShare team operates with a level of confidence and peace of mind they didn’t have before.

“We know that when something needs attention, it will be handled. The peace of mind alone has been massive.”

The outcome

Since moving to a fully-owned platform, EarthShare has seen meaningful business growth. Assets Under Management have increased by $47 million over the past year, with growth directly attributed to the stability of an owned product and infrastructure improvements made in collaboration with Tinkso.

“The AUM growth we’ve seen is due largely to the stability and control we now have by truly owning our product roadmap, thanks to partnering with Tinkso.”

About Tinkso

Tinkso is a custom software studio. We combine technical craftsmanship with strategic product thinking to craft the custom tools that modernize your business operations.

We specialize in AI integration and implementation, custom web platforms, automating workflows, and building custom internal tools. We work with organizations that need a trusted, senior technical partner to take complex digital products from concept to launch.

We are an agile, senior team operating across the globe. Our clients choose us because they want to work with people who understand the business behind the brief, not just the technology. Ensuring ROI for your project is key — we never just build for the sake of it, we build for impact.