Funny story with this...
Basically when we sold Newschoolers, we announced the end of donations. We said thank you to everyone who had done so, but that we no longer needed money. Especially since the money would just be going to a big media corporation, and not to the office.
There was mass revolt, and people demanded to be able to donate.
I refused to just take money and give it to a big media company, so we started giving T-shirts away in exchange for a donation.
People again revolted and were extremely upset that it wasn't a true donation if you got something in return. Donations with nothing in return that were going to a big media corporation were added back to the site.
We are perfectly financially stable, so Donations are by no means necessary. I know that some people are really happy to give their money to something which means so much to them, and believe me we appreciate this to the deepest amount you can imagine.
The amount that the members of Newschoolers care about the site is absolutely unreal. Every time a new donation comes in it practically brings a tear to my eye the level of commitment that represents.
We do always invest revenues into improvements on the site, salaries and overall awesomeness - so you can know that your money goes to a good place.