DESPRO: Decentralized business platform for student non-profit organizations

Abstract

Student non-profit organizations are a specific type of small associations that congregate students from diverse backgrounds around a common purpose. These organizations are non-profit driven, autonomous, and typically have largely similar statutes and regulations. In the context of software engineering, information systems that support their business processes have similar software requirements specifications. DESPRO is a web-based platform that fully supports principal use cases of students' non-profit organizations. The platform has three uses: accounting, voting, and fundraising management. DESPRO allows such organizations to begin with their principal operations practically immediately without unnecessary overhead. Unique features that distinguish DESPRO from other similar systems are: 1) lightweight and streamlined deployment process, 2) minimal required remote maintenance, 3) pre-defined functionalities specifically suited for student non-profit organizations, 4) user anonymity customized to specific functional requirements, 5) voting without prior user registration. The platform was developed with open-source technologies Node.js, Vue.js, Vuetify, Bootstrap, Sequalize, Axios, Web3, MariaDB, and smart contracts for Ethereum. It is freely available for noncommercial use by contacting the first author.