I don't think donations will ever pay for the development and support costs of a plugin, period.
Almost no one ever donates unless its for starving people or some other bogus cause.
So going the donations route is just a huge waste of time.

There is just one simple idea to making money.
The secret is:
You charge money for your product.
I know its totally absurd in this no charge obsessed time of ours.
DHH of ruby fame made an entire seminar on this topic over at Statup School 08.
It's really a must watch seminar.
http://www.omnisio.com/startupschool08/david-heinemeier-hansson-at-startup-school-08
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