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.
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
- 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 .
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.
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