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 keeping families housed, opening doors to work, and strengthening everyday life—using volunteers and budgets they already have. Browse the library to find the playbook that best matches your calling and your community’s current opportunity.
For Individual Churches
Start where you are. Grow as you go. These playbooks help you respond to clear neighborhood needs—with budgets as low as $650/year and a volunteer core you already know by name.
For Denominations & Networks
Steward scale for the sake of the neighborhood. These playbooks show you how to align corporate partners, public dollars, and bulk purchasing so local churches can say “yes” to more mission—without new pressure on tithes.
Your neighborhood already has strengths. These 22 playbooks help you organize them.
Each playbook includes real church case studies, actual budgets ($650–$12K), and simple 90-day launch plans. Use them as-is with spreadsheets, or pair them with the platform when you are ready for shared dashboards and reporting.
Free to access and implement · No login required · Built from real churches’ experiments and learnings
All playbooks are free to preview. When you're ready to move from ideas to implementation, pick the option that fits your church or network.
Step 1 · Explore
Browse 22 proven neighborhood playbooks with real budgets and 90‑day launch plans.
$0
Always free to preview online.
Explore the LibraryStep 2 · Download & Plan
Get full PDFs, editable templates, and checklists you can print, share, and adapt with your team.
$37
per playbook · or $497 for all 22.
Perfect if you want to test one playbook before the full platform.
Step 3 · Tailored to Your ZIP
We tailor a playbook to your ZIP code, neighborhood data, and church context—ready to implement.
$147
per customized playbook · $297 for any 3.
Add a 30‑minute strategy call for $347 total if you want help launching.
When your churches are ready to move but time and capacity are tight, a Playmaker Season pairs your Playbook tier 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; 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
Works with any paid Playbook tier · 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 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 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 so no one gets stuck waiting for help.
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 Fits With Your Playbook
Start with a Playbook tier (Starter, Network, or Shared Access). 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. You learn frameworks, see case studies, and leave with a plan.
Playmaker Seasons (Doing)
Hands-on implementation support. We work alongside you to execute the plan—emails, meetings, projects.
We're not for everyone—and that's okay. Here's how to know if Community Playbook and the new tiers are a good fit.
If this sounds like you, Community Playbook helps you turn scattered neighborhood efforts into a clear plan, tangible projects, and stories you can share with confidence.
If this describes you, we're probably not the right fit—and we'd rather be honest than waste your time or strain your budget.
Still not sure? Let's talk about where your churches are today and what level of investment makes sense.
Schedule a 30-Minute CallUse this short readiness check to see whether your church or network is a high, medium, or low fit for Community Playbook and which tier makes the most sense right now.
Choose whether you lead a single church or a church network. Answer a few quick questions and get a recommendation: Starter, Network, pilot with downloads, or “build foundations first.”
Data-informed
Checks readiness, capacity, and pain before you invest in a tier.
Board-friendly
Use results with your board or superintendent to frame the decision.
Quick
5–10 questions · about 8–12 minutes to complete.
Fit summary
Use this as a discernment tool with your board or network leadership to decide between Starter, Network, Playmaker Seasons, or pausing until foundations are stronger.
Whether 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, networks, and Playmaker Seasons.
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. The Starter tier is $249/month (or $2,688/year) and is 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. The Network platform starts around $999/month (for up to 10 churches) and can be paired with Playmaker Seasons ($7,500 per 90 days) or a full Accelerator partnership ($45,000–$60,000/year) to drive implementation and reporting across the network. Can we explore this for our upcoming 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 with Community Playbook.
Community Playbook is for churches and networks that want to move from scattered good ideas to a clear neighborhood plan, with real projects, partners, and stories—without hiring extra staff.
This is a good fit if you:
Starter Playbook Platform — $249/month or $2,688/year
For a single church focused on one neighborhood. You get the neighborhood dashboard, project and partner tracking, story capture tools, and access to all 22 playbook templates. DIY with clear frameworks and light coaching.
Network Playbook Platform — from $999/month
For networks with roughly 10–20 churches. You get everything in Starter for each church, plus a network dashboard, shared templates, aggregate reporting, and basic support. Self-service coordination across multiple churches.
Playmaker Seasons — $7,500 per 90-day Season
Add-on implementation support for Starter or Network. A Playmaker works alongside 3–5 priority churches for 90 days with strategy calls, office hours, and hands-on help. Done-with-you implementation sprints.
Neighborhood Formation Accelerator — $45,000–$60,000/year
A full-year partnership for networks that want a fractional transformation team. You get the Network platform plus cohorts, multiple Playmaker Seasons, and help designing and reporting a network-wide strategy. Done-with-you, year-long transformation partnership.
Simple rule of thumb: use Starter for one church, Network for 10–20 churches, add Playmaker Seasons when you want help “doing the work,” and choose the Accelerator if you want a full-year partner instead of building all of this internally.
Yes. All playbooks are free to preview in the online library, and most churches or networks start with a 30–45 minute discovery call to see the platform with their own context in mind.
Starter and Network subscriptions are month-to-month with no long-term contracts. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel as you go. Your data and stories stay with you.
That’s the starting point for most of the churches we serve. The Starter Playbook Platform ($249/month or $2,688/year) is built specifically for one congregation focused on one primary neighborhood.
You get a neighborhood snapshot, partner and project tracking, story capture, and access to all 22 playbook templates. If you later collaborate with other churches or move into a district or diocesan initiative, you can grow into the Network tier without losing your data.
Share your context, budget, and goals, and we’ll help you decide whether Starter, Network, a Playmaker Season, or the Accelerator is the right next step—or if you should wait.