I was wondering about something else. I think there is no real connection between the user and the foundation. Of course there is one in the end because the number of users makes the price of the coin but it's not very visible. Not sure the following is even possible from the programming site but why not take some small amount from every transaction like 0.1 or 0.01%? It would not only make the users feel more like contributing as well but also make the big pump and dumpers think twice about their acting.
Another thing is the 2%. Why not more than 2% of the mined coins? Like 5 or even 10%. I don't think it would really affect the miners in the end since the value of the coin would go up. It would be much more help for projects and really underline the coins attitude. And if the value is too high at some point for only one project one could split these 5 or 10% to fund more than one project at a time.
@Einsteinium
will send you pm later
ps.: almost at 100 pages in this thread

edit: not sure the big pump and dumpers are a valid argument actually
I haven't done the math on it, but I think having a higher percentage now would boost the price some, but in the long run it will reduce the price. Why? Because ten percent is a lot, and the incentive to increase the price will diminish if people know the charity is already getting such a large portion. Changing the donation amount just to boost the amount donated is a little fishy. I think it should stay 2%. That way it is common ground for miners. They understand donating up to a couple percent to a pool, but not 5 or ten percent. I think that mindset is sound. It will be better to make 2% of the mined coins worth more than to increase that percentage. And that 2% is only the amount that is automatically taken. People can donate more if they so choose. Maybe a pool can set this up automatically for very generous Einsteinamites!
Edit: It's actually 2.5% taken automatically. Can't forget about that .5% in marketing money!
I agree with the existing 2.5%. Just my opinion but if it was a forced 10% I would not mine it. Why?.... I want to be able to donate emc2 to the science projects that I want or see value in without being only controlled by the voting process. 2.5% is so small that people don't think anything of it, it adds up though. I like what praxiscat mentioned in using the "kickstarter model" for the other nominees that did not win that round of voting. It does sound like a lot of webdev work to make something like that possible though.