Also, bear in mind that I have no idea about your personal situations and objectives and I don't like giving cookie-cutter advice to people.

No system is perfect, so don't waste time chasing after the next shiny object.

So, evaluate whether it does objectively versus what else you could invest that equity towards and what return that would get you. 

They are much like an HOA where they often aren't working towards the same objective you are.Renting, like you said, is just throwing away your money usually.I think I would consider the hold-time for your investment.  

I wanted to organize a meet up with any locals in the area or out of state investors who want to network and talk real estate! 

Yes and was quite abrupt about it, lacking any sense of client service or sensitivity to why I might object and immediately severed our working relationship, despite that I offered several other ways to meet her needs while minimizing how much I might compromise my always safeguarded ID.

Or what seems crazy to me.Is it legal to create a 501c3 organization to buy investment properties and rent them out at fair market value?

LOL.There’s a WORSE WAY and a BEST WAY to try to obtain items 1-4 aboveBEST WAY: College or Professional Association courses in real estate (real estate license course as a base) and work experience for a REIT or other professional real estate organization and capital saved or equity raised from private parties with a MODERATE amount of debt leverage and or utilizing creative financing with low interest rate debt (may be highly leverage)WORSE WAY; Any guru courses or mentorship’s combine with high interest debt. 

Are you dropping off a box of receipts or do you have everything well organized in a spreadsheet and sending that over to them?

If your advisor uses Monarch Money you can grant them temporary visibility and organizing privileges which can be helpful as well.