Mentor A Promise is hiring: Volunteer Remote Animator - Kids' Stories & Media in

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 such as 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.

Animator (Volunteer – Storytelling and Media Division)
Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: Storytelling & Media

Location: Remote (with potential NYC‑based collaboration)

Type: Volunteer (Unpaid)

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

About The Role
We are seeking a talented and mission‑driven Animator to help transform MAP’s original children’s book stories into vibrant, engaging animated content. Working closely with writers, illustrators, and the Storytelling & Media team, you will bring characters, worlds, and emotions to life—turning meaningful stories into visual experiences that resonate with children, families, and educators alike.

Key Responsibilities

Animate MAP’s original children’s book stories and visual narratives for short films, digital content, and educational storytelling.

Collaborate with writers, illustrators, and producers to align tone, pacing, and visual storytelling with MAP’s mission and target audience.

Develop motion graphics and character animation consistent with MAP’s visual identity and educational values.

Support multimedia storytelling initiatives across MAP’s digital platforms, including YouTube, Threads of Voices, and The Bells I Hear.

Adapt artwork from illustrated books into animated sequences while maintaining artistic integrity and emotion.

Participate in creative meetings, offer storyboarding input, and assist in editing visual transitions and effects.

Check and respond to emails daily, ensuring all responses are completed within 48 hours.

Take responsibility for performance improvement by integrating creative feedback and refining animation techniques.

Qualifications

Experience in 2D or 3D animation, motion design, or visual storytelling.

Proficiency in animation software such as Adobe After Effects, Toon Boom Harmony, Blender, or similar tools.

Strong visual design skills and understanding of character motion, timing, and emotion.

Experience adapting stories, illustrations, or written content into visual media.

Collaborative mindset and ability to work closely with writers and creative directors.

Passion for storytelling that supports education, empathy, and youth empowerment.

Bonus Skills (not Required)

Experience illustrating or designing children’s media.

Familiarity with sound design or simple video editing (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve).

Understanding of trauma‑informed or culturally responsive storytelling principles.

Commitment

Volunteer role requiring approximately 5–10 hours per week.

Minimum 6‑month commitment preferred.

Fully remote, with optional in‑person collaboration opportunities in New York City.

What You’ll Gain

Experience animating meaningful, story‑driven educational content.

A collaborative creative environment that blends art, storytelling, and social impact.

Portfolio pieces and professional references for future creative opportunities.

Mentorship and credit in published MAP Storytelling & Media projects.

The fulfillment of helping bring hope, imagination, and belonging to children through art.

Application Process
Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist.

Contact
Email: hr@mentorapromise.org

Animate with purpose — help bring MAP’s children’s book stories to life through motion, color, and compassion.

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In Summary: Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability . We deliver consistent, high‑quality programming across mentorship, literacy, social‑emotional learning, and creative expression in shelters, schools, and community spaces . We are seeking a talented and mission‑driven Animator to help transform MAP's original children’s book stories into engaging animated content .

En Español: Mentor A Promise es una organización sin ánimo de lucro con sede en la ciudad de Nueva York que sirve a niños y jóvenes (de 5 años hasta 18 años) que experimentan inestabilidad vivienda, basada en la creencia de que cada niño es un promesa llena de potencial, dignidad y posibilidad. Ofrecemos programación consistente y de alta calidad a través de tutoría, alfabetización, aprendizaje social-emocional y expresión creativa en refugios, escuelas y espacios comunitarios, creando entornos estructurados donde los estudiantes pueden crecer, ser vistos y desarrollar habilidades duraderas. A través de experiencias marcadas como The Imagination Studio, The Kitchen Table, The Sound Lab y The Story Space, nutrimos el desarrollo académico, el bienestar y la voz creativa, todo dentro de un marco informado sobre traumatismos, nos desempeñamos como socios sensibles emocionalmente y centrados en la accesibilidad cultural. No sólo estamos abordando las necesidades inmediatas estamos construyendo caminos hacia la confianza, pertenencia y oportunidades a largo plazo, por lo que cada niño tiene el apoyo y la base para llevar adelante su promesa. Animatora (Voluntario Storytelling and Media Division) Organización: Mentor A Promise (MAP) División: Compartir historias y medios de comunicación ubicación: remota (con una posible colaboración con NYC) Tipo: Voluntario (No remunerado) Sobre Mentor Un Promesa Mentor Una Promesa MAP es una organización sin ánimo de lucro dedicada a apoyar a niños y jóvenes en edades 518 viviendas inestables en Nueva York City. Mediante tutoría, desarrollo de alfabetización, aprendizaje social-emocional, enriquecimiento académico y expresión creativa, MAP crea espacios seguros, consistentes y capacitados donde los jóvenes pueden prosperar. Trabajando en estrecha colaboración con escritores, ilustradores y el equipo de Storytelling & Media, llevará personajes, mundos y emociones a la vida para que las historias visuales se conviertan en experiencias visuales que resuenan con niños, familias y educadores por igual. Principales responsabilidades Animate MAP's original children's book stories and visual narratives for short films, digital content, and educational storytelling. Colaborar con los autores, illustores y diseñadores para alinear tono, ritmo y narrativa visual con la misión y público objetivo de MAP. Desarrollar gráficos e ilustraciones significativas consistentes con la identidad visual y valores educativos del MAPs. Apoyar iniciativas multimedia de narración en todas las plataformas digitales, incluidos YouTube, Threads of Creative Voices, y The Bells I Hear. Los editores de libros adaptados al desarrollo de una serie de historias completan su trabajo en forma voluntaria y desarrollan sus propias habilidades para mejorar el rendimiento y la comprensión de imágenes, así como la capacidad de diseño de contenido creativo o de transmisión de mensajería, comprendiendo los efectos de animación y la experiencia profesionalmente.