Fashion Designer (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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Fashion Designer (Volunteer)

Thread & Promise | Creative Design & Social Enterprise Division

Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed (in-person coordination with designers as required)

Type Volunteer

Reports To Creative Director, Thread & Promise

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, education, social-emotional learning (SEL), creative expression, and workforce pathways. MAP believes creativity is a powerful tool for dignity, identity, and opportunity.

Fashion at MAP is not about trends alone—it is about storytelling, skill-building, and creating pathways for young people to see themselves as creators, designers, and entrepreneurs.

About Thread & Promise

Thread & Promise is MAP’s fashion, design, and creative workforce initiative. The division develops apparel, merchandise, and design projects that blend social impact, youth voice, and ethical production. Thread & Promise also supports educational and career pathways for students interested in fashion, design, and creative industries.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Fashion Designer to support the creative development of apparel and design concepts for Thread & Promise. This role is ideal for a designer who is passionate about mission-driven work and interested in contributing their skills to a creative, youth-centered initiative.

The Fashion Designer will collaborate with creative leadership, project managers, and fellow designers to develop concepts, sketches, and design assets that align with MAP’s brand, values, and social mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Design apparel concepts aligned with Thread & Promise’s mission and aesthetic
• Create sketches, design mockups, or digital flats as needed
• Collaborate with creative leadership on seasonal or project-based collections
• Support brand-aligned design elements such as color palettes, graphics, and silhouettes
• Participate in design reviews and collaborative feedback sessions
• Adapt designs based on project needs, production constraints, and feedback
• Support documentation of design concepts for internal use or production planning
• Maintain timely, professional responsiveness via email and chat in Google Workspace
  
  

Qualifications

• Experience in fashion design, apparel design, or related creative fields
• Strong visual and design sensibility
• Ability to translate concepts into clear design outputs
• Comfort collaborating in a team-based, mission-driven environment
• Reliability and openness to feedback
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Experience with apparel production or manufacturing considerations
• Familiarity with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or similar design tools
• Experience designing for youth, community, or social impact initiatives
• Interest in ethical fashion, sustainability, or social enterprise
• Experience working with distributed or volunteer creative teams
  
  

Commitment

• Volunteer role
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Fully remote with optional NYC-based collaboration and in-person design meetings as needed
  
  

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on experience contributing to a mission-driven fashion initiative
• Collaboration with designers, educators, and creative leaders
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Exposure to social enterprise and creative workforce development
• A meaningful role using fashion as a tool for dignity and opportunity
  
  

How To Apply

Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required) describing relevant fashion design experience and interest in MAP’s mission
• Sample work or portfolio (required)
  
  

For any additional questions or concerns, please email us directly at hr@mentorapromise.org

Help design clothing that tells stories, builds confidence, and opens creative pathways—so young people can see themselves reflected in what they wear.

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