The following IRS websites cover the UBIT rules. https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/unrelated-business-income-tax To avoid UBIT it will be better if the self-directed IRA loans funds to the LLC as UBIT does not apply to notes.

IE some cash  credit and capacity. your to big of a risk.. if you have none of those then its friends and family its charity to get you started 

A couple of ideas we've been brainstorming:Postcards shaped differently, maybe in the shape of a houseBig text offering to make a $1 donation to charity for calling our number just to let us know who their current management company isHandwritten lettersPlease share any innovative ideas you may have to grab owner's attention for mailers or ways that have been successful for you in the past. 

@Priscilla Davenport this is a business not a charity.

How about getting nominations from local charity organizations ?

I would only do this if you can afford to have them live in the unit for free and can repair any damage they do out of your pocket - in other words, a purely philanthropic arrangement, where if they pay, all the better, but if they don't you wanted to provide the charity anyway.Otherwise, you should put this thought out of your mind and give yourself 5 good Moe slaps for even thinking the thought!

Yeah and if the restaurant industry got rid of all those pesky mom and pop shops and every restaurant was like McDonalds or Applebees the dining customers would be so much better conditioned to accept mediocrity.I know you believe that as a landlord I owe my time and energy to the "charity" of the "Landlord community" to try and make it better.

yes, and whether you agree with giving money to charities or not, it is a fact that the middle class consistently give a greater percentage of their income to charities.I think our country should provide greater incentives for people to work and they should not be further penalized for doing so. 

It's free on 9/9, but $10 in the future (donated to charity). 

I don't intend to ever pay them off, but rather take the cash to live on and the equity do other things with - expand, buy notes, give to charities, etc.