For open source maintainers managing multiple projects, tracking GitHub Sponsors contributions has been a persistent challenge—until now. Developer Architrixs has launched GitHub Sponsors Tracker, a free tool that aggregates sponsorship data across repositories into a single dashboard. This solution arrives as GitHub Sponsors gains traction, with over $30 million paid to developers since 2019, yet lacks native tools for cross-project sponsor management.

The Sponsorship Visibility Gap

GitHub Sponsors operates on a per-account basis, making it difficult for maintainers with numerous projects to:
- Identify sponsors supporting multiple repositories
- Track sponsorship tiers across different initiatives
- Recognize organizational sponsors consistently

This fragmentation often leads to missed acknowledgment opportunities and inefficient relationship management—critical flaws when 48% of maintainers cite funding as their top sustainability challenge (Tidelift survey).

How the Tracker Works

Using GitHub's GraphQL API, the tool:
1. Fetches sponsor data across all user/org accounts
2. Normalizes individual and organizational sponsorships
3. Generates visual summaries including:
- Sponsor contribution timelines
- Tier distribution heatmaps
- Cross-repository funding maps

"Maintainers deserve clarity on who supports their work," says the developer. "This dashboard replaces manual spreadsheets with automated insights."

Why This Matters

Beyond convenience, the tool tackles systemic open source pain points:
- Sustainability: Helps maintainers quantify funding streams to justify continued development
- Transparency: Provides data to demonstrate project viability to potential sponsors
- Community Building: Identifies high-engagement supporters for recognition

As GitHub's sponsorship program grows, tools like this highlight the need for better platform-native analytics. For now, maintainers can deploy the tracker locally via its MIT-licensed GitHub repository.

While not a full replacement for financial management systems, it offers immediate relief for developers navigating the complexities of modern open source funding—proving that sometimes the most impactful tools solve overlooked bureaucratic friction.