Communication is a skill that requires tact and diplomacy. It is unwise to announce that a certain service or app will be discontinued with community support or donations, without consulting or soliciting feedback from the users; it could come across as coercive. This poor communication strategy could alienate the original creators from their audience and the vice versa is valid. The best approach is to trust the community, listen to their needs, initiate a dialogue about monetization, and seek their input. If your community trusts you, you can reach a reasonable solution.