Government Relations Lead (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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Government Relations Lead (Volunteer)

PromisePublic | Advocacy, Policy & Government Relations

Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Type Volunteer (Leadership Role)

Reports To Chief of Public Affairs & Policy

Works Closely With Policy Team, Advocacy & Systems Change Team, Public Trust Leadership

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, and community. Our work centers dignity, equity, and accountability—fostering resilience and opening pathways to stability, opportunity, and hope.

Systems change is essential to our mission. Government partnerships and public policy advocacy are critical levers in advancing housing stability, educational access, and youth opportunity.

About PromisePublic | Advocacy & Government Relations

PromisePublic leads MAP’s advocacy, policy engagement, and public affairs strategy. The division ensures MAP’s voice in legislative and executive spaces reflects lived experience, ethical engagement, and compliance with nonprofit regulations.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Government Relations Lead to design and execute MAP’s state and local government engagement strategy. This role builds and maintains relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, agencies, and coalitions to advance MAP’s policy priorities.

The Government Relations Lead ensures advocacy efforts are strategic, coordinated, compliant, and aligned with organizational goals.

Time Commitment & Expectations

• Approximately 5–7 hours per week
• Read and respond to emails at least once every other day
• Attend a weekly one-hour team meeting
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Map and maintain relationships with elected officials, agencies, and legislative bodies
• Coordinate legislative briefings, meetings, and testimony
• Represent MAP at hearings and public forums when appropriate
• Develop and execute a comprehensive local and/or state government relations strategy
• Collaborate with policy team to inform lobbying, coalition-building, and relationship strategy
• Ensure compliance with government relations, lobbying, and testimony authorization requirements
• Monitor relevant legislative developments and public funding opportunities
• Maintain timely, professional responsiveness via email and chat in Google Workspace
  
  

Qualifications

Required

• Background in public policy, government relations, or legislative affairs
• Strong public speaking and relationship-building skills
• Ability to apply policy analysis to inform strategic government engagement
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and systems change
  
  

Preferred

• Familiarity with public funding mechanisms and budget processes
• Experience testifying at hearings or briefing policymakers
• Experience working with coalitions or advocacy networks
• Experience navigating nonprofit lobbying compliance frameworks
  
  

Commitment

• Volunteer leadership role
• Approximately 5–7 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Remote with occasional NYC-based collaboration
  
  

What You’ll Gain

• Leadership experience in government relations and advocacy
• Opportunity to influence policy impacting youth and housing stability
• Collaboration with executive and policy leadership
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Meaningful role advancing equity-centered systems change
  
  

How To Apply

Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required) describing relevant government relations or policy experience and interest in MAP’s mission
  
  

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.