What are the responsibilities and job description for the Backend Developer (Python/Django) - Volunteer position at Mentor A Promise?
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.
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Role Overview
We’re looking for a volunteer Backend Developer to help build and maintain a web project. This is a great opportunity to gain experience, contribute to a real-world application, and collaborate with a team.
Responsibilities
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Role Overview
We’re looking for a volunteer Backend Developer to help build and maintain a web project. This is a great opportunity to gain experience, contribute to a real-world application, and collaborate with a team.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain backend features using Python and Django
- Build REST APIs with Django REST Framework (DRF)
- Work with PostgreSQL and Django ORM
- Implement authentication (JWT, OAuth2, or Django AllAuth)
- Ensure proper data validation, serialization, and API security
- Test APIs using Pytest/ Unittest and tools like Postman
- Basic to intermediate experience with Python and Django
- Understanding of RESTful APIs and backend development concepts
- Familiarity with authentication, databases, and API security
- Willingness to learn, collaborate, and contribute consistently
- Experience with deployment, Docker, or cloud platforms
- Interest in open-source or collaborative projects