Ptah Dunbar

This plugin adds the ability to link to specific sidebars in the widgets admin page and have them open up automatically. In addition, by default when visiting the widgets admin page, none of the sidebars are open.
<pre><a href="<?php echo admin_url( 'widgets.php' ) .'?sidebar=aside'; ?>">Add Widgets</a></pre>
You’ll need to know the IDs of the sidebars you’d like to have opened. For multiple sidebars, simply separate them with commas.
<pre><a href="<?php echo admin_url( 'widgets.php' ) .'?sidebar=aside,body_open,before_the_loop'; ?>">Add Widgets</a></pre>
Alternatively, you can use the <code>add_widgets_link()</code> function:
<pre><?php echo waf_widgets_link( 'aside', 'Add Widgets to Aside' ); ?> <?php echo waf_widgets_link( 'aside,body_open,before_the_loop' ); ?></pre>

Widgets Admin Fix

This plugin adds the ability to link to specific sidebars in the widgets admin page and have them open up automatically.

Morten Dalgaard Johansen

Enable regulare widgets to be used as Dashboard Widgets in admin.
This plugin adds a new widget area to the Appearance -> Widgets section in WordPress admin, from where you can add regulare widgets to the WordPress admin dashboard.
<h3>Donations</h3>

Dashboard Widget Sidebar

Enable regulare widgets to be used as Dashboard Widgets in admin.

Widgets Admin Fix vs Dashboard Widget Sidebar