It is best to start a collaborative effort with an organization who has been successful in getting the funding for the purpose you seek.All the suggestions to Ray are good and may work with the right money behind the idea plus, may upgrade the low income community where the project is located.  

We're not competing against one another, but collaborating.

This has created some exceptional collaborative relationships with other investors that have lead to deals being closed. 

I look forward to meeting potential collaborators, mentors, and like-minded individuals - but would like a bit of guidance in how to even go about RE proposals if you have no proof of your own success.

Own your own feelings, be transparent about your motivations, and be open to collaboration with her and you may be surprised by a positive response.

Some people will collaborate with others and execute a joint venture.

Technology allows us to collaborate seamlessly with one another.

Neil Goradia  I appreciate the offer....checked you out on FB...not sure how we could collaborate out of state...unless can walk me through building full community like saw you're doing now.  

I seek to immerse myself in the real estate investment community in order to learn and find individuals that I can collaborate with to foster mutual success.

Creativity yielded through collective collaboration is amazing, and this site is proof.