Editorial Director (Volunteer)

Editorial Director (Volunteer)
Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)
Division: Storytelling, Media & Publishing (PromisePress)
Location: Remote via Google Meet and/or New York City
Type: Volunteer (Unpaid)
About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability. Through mentorship, literacy development, academic enrichment, social-emotional learning, creative expression, and community-centered storytelling, MAP creates safe, consistent, and empowering spaces where young people and families can thrive.
PromisePress

is MAP’s editorial and publishing arm, responsible for children’s literature, blogs, newsletters, essays, curriculum-aligned content, and long-form storytelling that centers dignity, resilience, and lived experience.
The Opportunity

The

Editorial Director

is the steward of MAP’s written voice. This role exists to ensure that all editorial content—across children’s books, blogs, newsletters, educational materials, and storytelling projects—is

coherent, ethical, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and of the highest quality .
This is a senior leadership role focused on

vision, mentorship, and editorial integrity , not content volume or speed.
What You’ll Do

Lead editorial vision, voice, and standards across all MAP written content.
Oversee children’s books, blogs, newsletters, essays, curriculum-aligned writing, and storytelling initiatives.
Guide and mentor writers, editors, bloggers, and editorial volunteers.
Establish clear editorial guidelines, review processes, and revision standards.
Ensure all content is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, age-appropriate, and mission-aligned.
Collaborate with Education, Multimedia, Communications, and Program teams to align content with impact goals.
Review drafts for clarity, structure, tone, emotional resonance, and ethical framing.
Support developmental editing without erasing author voice.
Coordinate editorial calendars and publishing priorities.
Represent PromisePress in leadership meetings and cross-functional planning.
Check and respond to emails daily, with responses within 48 hours.
Take responsibility for performance improvement by strengthening editorial systems, workflows, and quality over time.
How MAP Leads and Supports

MAP values editorial labor as intellectual, emotional, and ethical work. In this role, you can expect:
Clear leadership scope and editorial authority
Thoughtful collaboration and trust-based leadership
Respect for time, capacity, and creative boundaries
Transparency around goals and expectations
Professional references and letters of recommendation
Recognition of editorial leadership as stewardship, not extraction
Who We’re Looking For

Significant experience in editorial leadership, publishing, or content strategy.
Strong background in writing, editing, and developmental feedback.
Ability to guide voice and quality across diverse formats and age bands.
Excellent communication, mentorship, and organizational skills.
Deep sensitivity to ethical storytelling, especially involving youth and marginalized communities.
Commitment to equity, literacy, and mission-driven publishing.
Helpful but Not Required
Experience with children’s literature or youth-centered content
Background in education, journalism, publishing, or curriculum development
Experience managing volunteer writers or editorial teams
Bilingual or multilingual abilities (Spanish or Haitian Creole a plus)
Commitment

Volunteer role, approximately

5–10 hours per week
Minimum 6–12 month commitment

preferred
Remote collaboration via

Google Meet , with optional NYC-based meetings
MAP prioritizes sustainability, clarity, and care over urgency or burnout
What You’ll Gain

Senior editorial leadership experience within a growing nonprofit
Portfolio-worthy oversight of books, essays, and educational storytelling
Collaboration with executive leadership and cross-functional creative teams
Professional references and letters of recommendation
The opportunity to shape how stories are told—with dignity, depth, and responsibility
How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist.
For any additional questions or concerns, please email us directly at

hr@mentorapromise.org
Guard the voice. Shape the story. Help ensure every word reflects care, clarity, and promise.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, our volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals who are based in the United States. This limitation is due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements associated with our work. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.