Open Source Summit North America 2025

Community management in open source is often a catch-all role, with one person juggling contributor engagement, content, events, and growth. But no single individual can—or should—do it all. As projects scale, a structured, team-based approach becomes essential.

This talk introduces a four-part framework for building an effective community team:

- Community Caretakers – Foster an inclusive, welcoming space, ensuring contributors feel heard, valued, and engaged.
- Content Creators – Develop documentation, blogs, and educational materials.
- Growth Drivers – Expand the community through outreach and advocacy.
- Organizers – Handle logistics, events, and data to keep things running smoothly.

We’ll explore why many projects struggle with community management, the pitfalls of prioritizing outreach over engagement, and how a scalable team structure prevents burnout, improves retention, and ensures long-term sustainability.

Whether you're launching or scaling a project, this session provides a practical roadmap for turning fragmented community efforts into a high-impact, sustainable team.