If I see a lot of potential, however, I talk to the owner and tell them that for every lead I receive and purchase who uses the owner’s name / business name, I will donate $500-$1000 to a local charity.

You are running a business not a charity.

Keep the amount of deposit it requires for you to find a new tenant and refund the rest.This is business you are running not a charity.

I am not a charity.

You can contribute in the current tax year, but the assets are held within the donor advised fund until such time as you are ready to request that a grant be made to a specific charity or cause.If you contribute appreciated securities you'll get double the 'bang for your buck' as you will not have to pay any capital gains tax, but will get the full value of the charitable deduction.  

Bottom line was it was going to be a train wreck whether I raised the rent or not.The question you have to ask yourself is would you select the tenant as a source for your charity if she were not in the property you just purchased?

You think he's running a charity?

@Robert UcedaMake sue to familiarize yourself with the UBIT rules which generally apply if real estate is flipped inside a retirement account such as an IRA.https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/unrelate...

Someone on BP actually recognized me at a charity event a couple years ago.

Thank you for sharing this @Jay Hinrichs  To be honest I wanted to pick your brain a bit more and would love to make a donation to your charity in order to do so.