It would be nice if we could make sure something like this doesn't happen again, though.
It's simple. Don't donate to a website that has advertising.
It's okay to ask for modest donations with a quiet little button over to the side, but NOT if you also have advertising on the site.
When you see a site owner having a donation drive or fundraiser to pay the bills run for your life! Run even faster when you see the site owner only comes around periodically and is coincidentally always asking for money, as in the case with Kathy and Eric.
Perhaps too, it should be required of any site owner to make full disclosure of their finances if asking for money or donations. If they won't or refuse, then maybe they can't be trusted.