In particular, I work with a great kitchen supplier who orders direct and usually donates or cheaply sells extra supplies that are rejected or slightly damaged. 

I would much rather go to a pancake breakfast at the vets club, a chicken BBQ at the Elks club, a carwash for the local high school sports team, buy candy for an educational trip to somewhere for kids, Donate to the Lions club for the loan closet......

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.

The plan was I would assume the loan, he would donate the money, and would also receive interest in the property.I few months later House is purchased but I found out there is a clause in the mortgage for the lender to call the note if any interest is transferred.

But given what I started with and where I'm at, there's no way you can sell me that I'd have been better off donating to a 401k.  

Not, "have some mercy, let us stay until Jan 1 and we'll move in with my sister, my wife has cancer etc etc etc," but rather that you are a terrible person for not donating his rent to him and he is going to try to drag you through a lengthy legal process to screw you.

However, even retail businesses open their establishments to house flooding vicitims beyond business hours, or donate food or other items for worthy causes, or fly hurricane surviving pets to safety who don't have tickets (Southwest Airlines). 

Robert, I'm trying to help out a non-profit that's got some vacant land that was donated to them they're trying to sell.

These are stores that commercial jobs buy a LOT of product for a particular job and when it's completed they donate it these stores.

If you need a Mason company for any stone work, id be happy to donate some time to help lower costs for you. 7802652400.