One other tip: - get on a board of a charity that you love.

He can donate the properties to charity if he is that against paying tax on them.

This would keep local money local.Long story short, you can't do it as a small investor unless you're willing to run a charity.

He did mention he wanted his money to go to charity, so I was pitching to him that he'd be alive and able to donate the house proceeds to charity himself and see the good that it does while he's still alive; so we shall see. 

This is not charity.

Nice Post.I know we have been trying real hard to raise the funds for our aheroshome.org  so we can give away the house to the Hero its been much tougher to raise charity money than i had thought.

But here I am raising money through donations for my charity aheroshome.org  to GIVE a home away to a deserving first responder.. so I come from a different view point I guessand believe me when I was the big bad bank these investor landlords thought it was my fault that we lent them the money  LOL. shoe was on the exact opposite foot when it was them under stress.. and me being the big bad lender.. so I get it.. 

I'd only give 10%, maybe 20%.You are running a business, not a charity!

Maybe you can pay one of their bills or money towards one for their bills and write a check for that company.Sometimes giving money is a challenge, that is why I try to brainstorm what would be best used and most effective.What about helping the community some and making a food donation to a local food bank or charity?

Or donate to your personal foundation if your into charity.