Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability, grounded in the belief that every child is a Promise—full of potential, dignity, and possibility. We deliver consistent, high-quality programming across mentorship, literacy, social‑emotional learning, and creative expression in shelters, schools, and community spaces, creating structured environments where students can grow, be seen, and build lasting skills. Through signature experiences like The Imagination Studio, The Kitchen Table, The Sound Lab, and The Story Space, we nurture academic development, emotional well‑being, and creative voice, all within a trauma‑informed, culturally responsive, and accessibility‑centered framework. Our work prioritizes dignity‑protective storytelling, consent‑driven engagement, and deep community partnership, ensuring that how we serve is as intentional as whom we serve. We are not only addressing immediate needs - we are building pathways to confidence, belonging, and long‑term opportunity, so every child has the support and foundation to carry their promise forward.
About PromisePublic and PromiseBridge
This role sits within PromisePublic, MAP’s policy, public engagement, and systems‑change division—responsible for shaping how our work connects to the broader public, civic, and policy landscape. The Coalition Director works in deep alignment with PromiseBridge, MAP’s partnerships division—ensuring that coalition‑building efforts are not only strategic, but sustained through strong, values‑aligned partnerships across sectors. Together, these divisions form the backbone of MAP’s external ecosystem strategy—where public trust meets partnership infrastructure.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Coalition Director to design, build, and lead a transformative, cross‑sector coalition advancing coordinated solutions for children and families experiencing housing instability. This is a field‑building leadership role. The Coalition Director will bring together nonprofits, schools, shelters, housing providers, government agencies, corporate partners, researchers, and community leaders into a unified, action‑oriented ecosystem—aligned around shared goals, coordinated strategies, and measurable impact.
System Transformation Goals
- Fragmentation to Coordination
- Parallel efforts to Shared outcomes
- Individual programs to Collective impact infrastructure
Key Responsibilities
Coalition Architecture & Systems Design (PromisePublic Leadership)
- Design and launch a multi‑sector coalition aligned with MAP’s systems‑change strategy
- Establish governance structures, operating models, and shared accountability frameworks
- Build infrastructure for long‑term coordination across sectors
Strategic Partnerships (In Partnership with PromiseBridge)
- Identify, engage, and steward high‑impact partners
- Support development of partnerships, MOUs, and engagement pipelines
- Ensure partnerships are values‑aligned, sustainable, and integrated
Public Systems Alignment & Policy Integration
- Align coalition efforts with public systems (education, housing, social services)
- Collaborate with policy teams to translate insights into advocacy priorities
- Support coordinated and compliant engagement with public stakeholders
Convening & Cross‑Sector Leadership
- Lead coalition convenings, working groups, and strategic forums
- Facilitate structures that drive action, accountability, and trust
- Ensure community voice—including youth and families—is embedded
Collective Impact & Measurement
- Partner with PromiseMeasure to define shared impact metrics
- Develop coalition‑wide measurement frameworks
- Use data to guide strategy and demonstrate outcomes
Qualifications
Required
- Experience in coalition‑building, partnerships, or cross‑sector leadership
- Demonstrated ability to lead multi‑stakeholder initiatives
- Strong understanding of systems impacting underserved communities
- Exceptional relationship‑building and facilitation skills
- Ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels
- Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity‑centered values
Preferred
- Experience in policy, advocacy, or government relations
- Background in collective impact or systems‑change initiatives
- Familiarity with NYC’s nonprofit, education, or housing landscape
- Experience in trauma‑informed or community‑centered environments
Commitment
- Volunteer senior leadership role
- Approximately 5–10 hours per week
- Minimum 6‑month commitment required
- Hybrid / NYC‑based engagement as needed
What This Role Represents
- A student in temporary housing is not navigating disconnected services
- Organizations are not duplicating efforts, but coordinating them
- Public systems and community organizations are not misaligned—but moving together