A community quarterback is an entity that serves in a coordinating role, managing a diverse coalition of players in order to achieve community betterment. A community quarterback may function as an organizer and navigator toward the shared goal of a cross-sector initiative in many ways, which could include articulating the goal itself, establishing shared metrics, bringing together knowledgeable allies and financial resources, and facilitating the work of an initiative’s many community partners. In this model, the quarterback knits together the diverse abilities of formerly siloed community development sectors, creating a powerful integrated initiative.
This Jargon Buster was contributed by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
