This. Try selling them a song or two. It will be easier if the songwriter has worked with other bands before, and had success with them. If not, you need to show them somehow that your guy is worth their time, and that he can help them achieve their goal of success

We have targeted bands that have a nice following in the area, but none that are big time, since I assume they are interested in writing their own stuff and working with bigger songwriters. The music is good, and we are pretty much going on a song-by-song basis and trying to offer songs to bands that we think are a good fit.

Maybe have a YouTube channel for the songs your friend has written, with videos by the different artist who perform them.

That's a pretty sound idea, we just don't have any artists yet unfortunately. I would ultimately like to create a YouTube channel such as the one you mentioned as well as a collaborations page on his actual music website. I feel that we will have to use an approach that combines several of the ideas you guys have proposed, rather than just one

Well, if you don't have anyone recording your songs, maybe make a portfolio of the songs you have written already. This way you can show people you approach what type of material you are capable of creating.

Okay we sent out our first pitch and had mixed feelings about the results. We contacted a band called the Bellfuries, who politely declined. I am thinking of revising our pitch to offer the bands a sum of money to record the track, a marketing budget to publicize the collaboration and proceeds from sales if and when we post the finished tracks on iTunes, CD Baby, etc. Does this sound like a suitable offer that you would accept?

Depends on the sum of money. 1¢ is a sum of money.