The Playbook helps you move from scattered charity to coordinated transformation. See real needs, build sustainable partnerships, and prove your impact—without drowning in spreadsheets.
A proven system built by pastors, for pastors.
In partnership with
Independently developed by Leslie B. James with leaders serving in real communities.
Without a clear plan, you're stuck in the exhausting cycle:
Every playbook follows the same simple, relational framework
Reveal ZIP-level data on education, health, housing, and food access—alongside lived stories, so data feels human
→ Know your neighborhood with real data
Discover aligned partners and design Collaboration Pathways that make mission mutual and sustainable
→ Love them well through real partnerships
Publish stories and launch Multiply steps so insight becomes discipleship in motion
→ Inspire the next wave of transformation
Choose your starting point:
Learn the strategy first
22 proven playbooks used by real churches (Detroit, Memphis, Atlanta), actual budgets ($650–$12K), and 90-day launch plans. Download and implement with spreadsheets.
Execute 10x faster
Stop drowning in spreadsheets. Coordinate partners, track 90-day projects, and capture stories via SMS/QR code. Save 10+ hours/month in coordination time.
Ready to know your neighborhood and love them well?
Start with Free PlaybooksNo signup required · 22 proven playbooks · Real church examples
Not sure where to start?
Schedule a 30-minute strategy callImagine six months from now:
Watch pastors see their neighborhoods clearly for the first time—and discover the partners, needs, and opportunities they didn't know existed.
Dr. Thomas
Lead Pastor
"I don't know how many times I've said, even being here—where do I start? This gives me that clarity."
What He Discovered
Neighborhood demographic data instantly
Clear starting point for outreach strategy
Scott Grey
Lead Pastor
"People often know they need to help but don't know where to start. When you can direct them to specific areas, it's much more effective."
What He Discovered
Specific needs to direct volunteers toward
Clearer path from intention to action
These are unscripted reactions from leaders exploring the Playbook for the first time. Your turn.
Churches like yours are already preventing evictions, creating jobs, and keeping families together—without hiring new staff or launching capital campaigns. Find the playbook that fits your calling and your community's greatest need.
For Individual Churches
Start small. Scale smart. These playbooks show you how to meet urgent needs in your neighborhood—with budgets as low as $650/year and volunteers you already have.
For Denominational Networks
Multiply your impact. Protect your tithes. Channel corporate partnerships, government grants, and bulk purchasing power into your churches—without asking members for another dollar.
Your community has a need. One of these 22 playbooks is the answer.
Every playbook includes real church examples, actual budgets ($650–$12K), and 90-day launch plans. The ministry that keeps a family housed, employed, or healthy could start with you—this quarter.
100% free to download and implement · No credit card · No staff required
Remember: All playbooks are free. These subscriptions help you execute faster—coordinating partners, tracking projects, and capturing stories without the spreadsheet chaos.
One neighborhood. One church. Clear plan for impact—without hiring staff or launching campaigns.
💡 Churches using this: Launch 2-3 real projects per year, track 50+ neighbors served, capture 10+ stories—all with existing volunteers.
or $1,590/year (save $198 · 2 months free)
⏱️ Saves 10+ hours/month in coordination time
30-minute setup call included · Cancel anytime
Everything You Need
Neighborhood Dashboard
See demographics, assets, and gaps in your area
Partner & Project Tracker
Stop losing partnerships in email threads and spreadsheets
Story Capture System
Collect testimonies via SMS/QR · Auto-format for social & reports
3 Team Member Seats
Pastor + staff + key volunteers all stay in sync
Access to All 22 Playbook Templates
Plug-and-play frameworks for any ministry focus
💰 Return on Investment:
If you spend 10 hours/month coordinating partners and tracking impact, this platform pays for itself at $15/hour value. Most churches save 12-15 hours monthly.
When your churches are ready to move but time and capacity are tight, a Playmaker Season pairs your playbook with hands-on implementation support.
What's a Playmaker?
Think of Playmakers as implementation coaches who work with you (not for you) to turn your Playbook into live projects. Different from cohorts: Cohorts are peer learning experiences with faculty; Playmakers are hands-on execution support helping 3–5 priority churches move from plan to launch.
You don't need another consultant telling you what to do. You need a Playmaker who helps you do it—alongside your team, in real time, until the project is live and the story is captured.
Per 90-day Season · $7,500 total per Season
Price adjusted by scope and number of churches (3–5 churches per Season is typical)
Who it's for:
Churches and networks running a Starter or Network Playbook who want help going from "on paper" to "on the ground."
Not included in subscriptions—this is a separate, add-on service you purchase when you're ready for intensive implementation support.
What's Included Per Season (90 Days):
Strategy + Accountability Calls
2–4 calls over 90 days with your network leadership to set direction, unblock obstacles, and keep momentum. We help you prioritize which churches and projects to focus on.
Hands-On Help for 3–5 Priority Churches
We don't just coach from the sidelines—we help draft outreach emails, facilitate partner meetings, build project plans, and troubleshoot obstacles in real time. Active, in-the-work support.
Weekly Office Hours
All churches in your playbook get access to weekly drop-in office hours (30–60 min sessions) so no one gets stuck waiting for help. Questions answered, problems solved.
Implementation Checklists + Templates
Pre-built guides, checklists, and email templates so you're not starting from scratch—you're adapting proven frameworks to your context.
How This Works:
Start with a Playbook subscription. Add a Playmaker Season when you're ready to move faster (typically after you've mapped your context and identified 3–5 priority churches). Most networks run 2–3 Seasons per year: Spring (launch projects), Fall (scale + refine), Winter (capture stories).
Cohorts vs. Playmaker Seasons
Cohorts (Learning)
Peer-based learning with faculty experts. You learn frameworks, see case studies, and leave with a plan. Great for foundations.
Playmaker Seasons (Doing)
Hands-on implementation support. We work alongside you to execute the plan—emails, meetings, projects. Great for momentum.
We're not for everyone—and that's okay. Here's how to know if Community Playbook is a good fit.
If this sounds like you, Community Playbook will help you turn scattered neighborhood efforts into a clear plan, tangible projects, and stories you can share.
If this describes you, we're probably not the right fit—and we'd rather be honest than waste your time.
Still not sure? Let's talk about your specific situation.
Schedule a 30-Minute CallWhether you're presenting to your church board, senior pastor, bishop, or network superintendent, we've made it easy to share. Download a 1-page PDF overview or email this page directly.
Get a printable PDF that summarizes how Community Playbook works, what's included, and pricing for churches and networks.
Download PDFSend this pricing page directly to your pastor, board chair, or network leader with a personal note.
Open Email DraftSample Messages You Can Use:
For Church Boards / Pastors:
"I found Community Playbook—a tool that helps us map our neighborhood, track community partnerships and projects, and capture stories we can share with the congregation and board. It's $149/month and designed for churches serious about neighborhood impact. Can we explore this as part of our outreach strategy? Here's the link: communityplaybook.org/pricing"
For Network Leaders / Superintendents:
"I came across Community Playbook and think it could help us activate 10–20 of our churches around neighborhood transformation. They offer a 12-month partnership that includes a shared playbook, cohorts, implementation coaching, and impact reporting—exactly what we've been talking about. Can we explore this for our 2026 priorities? Here's the link: communityplaybook.org/pricing"
Questions? Email us at hello@communityplaybook.org or schedule a call.
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Church leaders, nonprofit directors, and denominational networks who want to understand their communities better, build meaningful partnerships, and track real neighborhood impact.
This is for you if you:
Starter Playbook ($149/month)
For individual churches. One neighborhood, simple tracking, story capture. DIY with templates.
Network Playbook ($799/month)
For networks with 5–20 churches. Shared framework, dashboards, and visibility. Self-service coordination.
Accelerator ($45K–$60K/year)
Full 12-month partnership for networks. Everything in Network Playbook plus cohorts, coaching, implementation support, and impact reporting. Done-with-you partnership.
Simple rule: Start with subscriptions if you want tools and templates. Choose the Accelerator if you want intensive coaching and guaranteed results.
Yes. We recommend starting with a discovery call where we walk through the platform, review your context, and help you determine the right fit.
All subscription plans are month-to-month—no long-term contracts. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime. Your data stays with you.
Typical path: Schedule a call → Review your goals → Start with Starter or Network Playbook → Add implementation support (Playmaker Seasons) when you're ready to move faster.
Perfect! Most churches start exactly where you are. The Starter Playbook ($149/month) is designed for individual churches who want clarity on their neighborhood work.
You'll map one neighborhood, track partners and projects, and capture stories—without the complexity of multi-church coordination. If you later want to collaborate with other churches or expand to multiple locations, you can upgrade to Network Playbook.
Bottom line: You don't need to be a network to get value. Start small, see impact, grow when you're ready.
We're here to help you find the right approach for your context.