A debt restructuring proposal was passed at Aberdeen's December AGM that will see the club's debts to the bank and others paid off this financial year.
This has had a direct and instant impact on the first team, with Aberdeen able to pay their first transfer fee for years in order to secure top Scottish talent Kenny McLean.
The not-insubstantial investment from the down-to-earth Donalds helped to facilitate the debt restructuring, and they now have a 20 per cent shareholding after dipping into their own pocket.
Their wealth has been built on the back of successful civil engineering firm WM Donald, based at the family home in the hamlet of Netherley, near Stonehaven.
The only statement made by Willie Donald at the time of the announcement said: "Our family recognises that we have been fortunate to have grown our business in a city and region that has benefited from the impact of the energy sector over the last 37 years.
"We decided some time ago that we wished to give something back. We see the football club as a vital and central part of the community, and indeed the whole north-east of Scotland.
"We see this investment as an excellent opportunity to deliver our objective."
Hard-working couple of 37 years Willie, 59, and Elaine Donald, 58, founded their construction company in 1977 and it now has more than 100 employees.
At first, they predominantly worked for local councils providing heavy plant hire but Willie quickly built up a reputation for dedication and expertise and began to receive requests for construction work.
One employee told the Daily Record of Willie's work ethic: "At the start, Willie was the first one in the morning to get his boilersuit on and get going. He'd be up at 4am going round all the sites and he's seen his company grow considerably.
"He’s a workaholic. He's always about. He moves at 100mph and gets things done – bang."
Chairman Stewart Milne says the restructuring plan marks a monumental moment in the club's history, and paid tribute to the Donalds.
"They've always been very good supporters to the club," he said. "We always felt that when we got to the stage where we had all the other elements in place, that they would be people that might be in a position to raise the cash that was needed to finalise the deal.
"It would be fair to say they took me by surprise when they agreed to deal with the whole thing between them. It's a fantastic thing they've done for the club."
Sources: Daily Record, BBC Sport, RedWeb