Director of Strategic Partnerships (Volunteer)

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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Director of Strategic Partnerships (Volunteer Leadership Role)

PromiseBridge | Institutional Partnerships & Cross-Sector Strategy

Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location Hybrid / Remote (NYC-based collaboration preferred)

Type Volunteer Leadership Role

Time Commitment 5–10 hours per week

Minimum Commitment 6 months

Reports To Chief External Affairs & Growth Officer

Works Closely With Development Team, PromisePublic (Policy), PromiseLearning (Programs), PromiseStudios (Brand), Executive Leadership

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) empowers youth experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, social-emotional learning, and community-centered systems change.

Our impact depends on durable partnerships across

• Schools and universities
• Shelters and housing providers
• Corporate and philanthropic institutions
• Public agencies
• Cultural and media organizations
  
  

MAP does not pursue partnerships for optics.

We build structured, values-aligned collaborations that strengthen long-term infrastructure.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Director of Strategic Partnerships to design, expand, and oversee MAP’s partnership architecture.

This leadership role will

• Identify high-impact institutional partnerships
• Formalize collaboration frameworks (MOUs, pilot agreements, advisory relationships)
• Align partnerships with programmatic and policy priorities
• Strengthen long-term sustainability through cross-sector engagement
  
  

The Director will operate at the intersection of growth, governance, and mission alignment.

This role requires strategic vision, diplomatic communication, and disciplined follow-through.

Key Responsibilities

Partnership Strategy & Pipeline Development

• Develop a 12-month Strategic Partnerships plan with measurable targets
• Identify and prioritize mission-aligned institutional partners
• Build a structured outreach and relationship cultivation pipeline
• Establish partnership tiers (pilot, advisory, funding, implementation)
  
  

Institutional Relationship Management

• Initiate and lead exploratory partnership conversations
• Formalize partnerships through structured agreements and documentation
• Maintain active engagement with key institutional stakeholders
• Ensure partnerships reflect MAP’s safeguarding and equity standards
  
  

Cross-Division Alignment

• Coordinate with Program, Policy, Development, and Creative teams to align partnership opportunities
• Ensure partnerships support MAP’s advocacy and nonpartisan compliance framework
• Translate partnership opportunities into tangible programmatic outcomes
  
  

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure all partnership activities align with 501(c)(3) regulations
• Coordinate with Risk & Compliance on documentation and review processes
• Maintain organized records of agreements and active collaborations
• Flag potential reputational or ethical concerns
  
  

Reporting & Growth Metrics

• Track partnership engagement metrics
• Produce quarterly partnership status reports for executive leadership
• Identify opportunities for long-term institutional growth
• Support board-level visibility on strategic alliances
  
  

Qualifications

• 5–8 years experience in partnerships, business development, nonprofit leadership, or institutional relations
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain cross-sector partnerships
• Strong executive communication and negotiation skills
• Experience drafting partnership agreements or MOUs
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance and advocacy compliance
• High discretion and strategic judgment
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Experience working within NYC education, housing, or public systems
• Familiarity with philanthropic and corporate social responsibility frameworks
• Experience supporting institutional growth strategies
• Grant alignment and partnership-funding integration experience
• Experience presenting to executive or board-level audiences
  
  

Success Indicators (Year 1)

• Formalized Strategic Partnerships Plan
• Documented growth in active, mission-aligned institutional partnerships
• Executed MOUs and structured collaboration agreements
• Measurable increase in cross-division partnership integration
• No compliance or reputational risks arising from partnerships
  
  

Commitment

• 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment
• Hybrid / NYC collaboration preferred
• Compliance with MAP volunteer agreement, confidentiality agreement, and nonprofit advocacy standards required
  
  

What You’ll Build

• A disciplined partnership infrastructure
• Long-term institutional alliances
• Sustainable cross-sector growth pathways
• Structured governance for external engagement
  
  

Strong missions require strong alliances.

Help build partnerships that expand impact — responsibly, strategically, and with integrity.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer leadership opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and nonprofit regulatory requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.