“I don’t know how many times I’ve said, even being here—where do I start?”
Dr. Thomas · The Way Community Church · Roosevelt NY
Know your neighborhood. Love them well.
The Playbook helps communities move from disconnected efforts to coordinated impact — seeing needs clearly, serving strategically, and telling the story powerfully.
No cost or commitment — it's free to get started!
In partnership with
Independently developed by Leslie B. James with leaders serving in real communities.
Quick demo
When your community becomes your congregation
Watch how pastors and nonprofit leaders are using the Playbook to listen deeply, pray intentionally, and shape ministry around what’s truly happening in their neighborhoods.
Leaders on the ground
What happens when leaders see their city differently
Across the country, pastors and nonprofit leaders are using the Playbook to connect faith and action—building trust, forming partnerships, and serving where it matters most.
Their first reactions after exploring their own ZIP in the Playbook.
“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.”
Scott Grey · Spur Methodist · Spur TX
Built for leaders on the ground
How people use the Playbook
It feels like a listening session before you host one. Set ministries by need, delegate next steps, and start the right conversations.
Church
- Set ministries by real need
- Delegate clear next steps
- Prepare sermons and briefs
Nonprofit
- Recruit church volunteers
- Coordinate faster with partners
- Report outcomes to funders
Network
- Shared metrics across ZIPs
- White-label and training
- Faster collaboration cycles
Inside Community Playbook™
Connect wisely. Plan and Mobilize. Share Impact.
A focused flow powered by ServeWell, PartnerWell, StoryWell — plus Playbook Assistant and Community Pulse.
Partner with Community Playbook
Choose the partnership level that fits your mission. Start with Plus for individual exploration, grow to Teams for collaborative impact, or scale with Network for citywide transformation.
Plus Partnership
Start hereFor individual leaders exploring how to reimagine community engagement across multiple neighborhoods.
$79/month or $799/year
Up to 20 Playbook Runs per month · Usage resets monthly
- ✔ Saved Playbook Library
- ✔ PartnerWell: discover and connect with local partners
- ✔ Personal dashboard and insights
Teams Partnership
Most chosenFor collaborative teams building collective impact through shared tools, projects, and storytelling.
Starting at $299 / month
Unlimited Playbook Runs · 3 to 10 team members
Discuss Partnership- ✔ Everything in Plus
- ✔ ServeWell: mobilize action and manage projects together
- ✔ StoryWell: capture and share impact narratives
- ✔ Community Pulse (real-time news) & Playbook Assistant (AI chat)
- ✔ Shared workspace + collaborative dashboard
- ✔ Monthly impact summaries for stakeholders & boards
Network Partnership
White-labelFor city coalitions, funders, and associations scaling transformation across entire networks.
Custom partnership
Unlimited access · Custom branding · Dedicated support
Co-Design Partnership- ✔ Everything in Teams
- ✔ Citywide dashboards + aggregated impact metrics
- ✔ White-label platform with custom branding
- ✔ Onboarding, training, and ongoing partnership support
Not sure which partnership fits? Start with Plus to explore at your own pace. As your collaborative impact grows, expand to Teams or Network for shared tools and citywide transformation.
Go Deeper with Cohort & Immersion
Combine tools with guided learning. Join a funder-sponsored cohort or take your team on an immersive field experience to learn from leaders transforming their cities.
Digital Cohort
6 weeksA live, guided learning journey with domain experts and 1:1 coaching. Apply your insights directly in your ZIP. Fully funder-sponsored—no cost to participants.
- ✓ Pre-work + 30 / 60 / 90 day follow-ups
- ✓ 2 – 5 participants per team
- ✓ Measurable community outcomes & shared tools
- ✓ Access to PartnerWell, ServeWell, and StoryWell
Cultural Immersive
On-siteTravel as a team to learn from leaders transforming their city. See impact up close, build relationships, and return ready to adapt proven strategies to your context.
- ✓ Field visits + PartnerWell roundtables
- ✓ StoryWell debrief + replication plan
- ✓ Ideal for teams of 5 – 8
- ✓ Custom itineraries based on your goals
These experiences build on your Playbook subscription — we'll scope goals, seats, and dates together.
Register Your Interest
Your needs set the direction.
Each cohort is sponsored by a grantmaker and provides selected nonprofits and churches with tools, training, and connections—at no cost to you. Register your priorities so we build the most relevant experience, together.
Community as Congregation
Ready to reimagine church's role locally?
Youth Asset Mapping
Want to mobilize for youth impact in your ZIP?
Neighborhood Storytelling
Does your story need to be heard and amplified?
Trauma-Informed Partnerships
Seeking practical tools on faith and healing?
Housing Equity & Advocacy
Is your group fueled for change?
Other?
Tell us what you'd join!
Shape the Conversation
Your input directly informs curriculum, timing, and the expert facilitators we invite. Selected participants receive full access to Community Playbook's tools and training—funded by grantmakers committed to building community capacity.
- ✓ Help design the topics, format, and facilitator lineup
- ✓ No cost to participants—fully funder-sponsored cohorts
- ✓ Walk away with new skills, tools, and lasting connections
Are You a Funder or Grantmaker?
Sponsor a cohort and invest in capacity building that scales. Build relationships with multiple grantees, demonstrate sector leadership, and see measurable impact across your portfolio.
Learn About SponsorshipQuestions, answered
Here's what pastors, teams, and networks usually ask before starting their Playbook journey.
Who is the Playbook for?
The Playbook is for pastors, nonprofit leaders, and network connectors who want to understand their community through a spiritual and data-informed lens. Whether you're leading one church or coordinating dozens, it helps you see what God is already doing—and where to join in.
What are "Playbook Runs" and how are they used?
Each "Run" generates insights for a ZIP code or community—its story, needs, and opportunities. You can use Runs to listen to your neighborhood, prepare for outreach, or identify new partners. Plus plans include up to 20 Runs per month, while Teams and Network plans offer unlimited Runs.
What's the difference between Plus and Teams?
Plus is ideal for individual pastors or leaders exploring multiple neighborhoods and starting new outreach ideas. Teams adds everything in Plus— plus collaborative tools like ServeWell to build local impact projects and StoryWell to share results. It also includes shared dashboards, AI-powered insights, and monthly impact summaries for your staff or board.
Can we white-label the Playbook for our network?
Yes. The Network plan offers custom branding, citywide dashboards, and partner onboarding. It's ideal for associations, funders, and collaboratives that want to equip multiple churches or organizations under one visual identity.
Can we add training or guided experiences?
Absolutely. You can join a Digital Cohort for a 6-week guided journey or attend a Cultural Immersive to learn from leaders transforming their cities. Both experiences build on your Playbook plan and help your team move from data to discipleship in real time.
What's included in each plan?
- Plus: Explore up to 20 ZIPs monthly, find partners through PartnerWell, and save insights in your Playbook Library.
- Teams: Everything in Plus, plus ServeWell (impact planning), StoryWell (story creation), AI tools, dashboards, and unlimited Runs.
- Network: Everything in Teams, plus white-label branding, citywide dashboards, and partner onboarding support.