Grants Assistant (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.

Grants Assistant (Volunteer)

PromiseFinance | Grants Administration, Research & Funding Operations

Mentor A Promise (MAP) Division

PromiseFinance

Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Commitment: Approximately 5–10 hours per week

Type: Volunteer

Administrative Support Role

Minimum Commitment: 6-month Commitment Required

Reports To: Director of Grants & Institutional Giving

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a NYC-based nonprofit organization serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, educational enrichment, workforce development, creative opportunity, advocacy, housing innovation, and community-centered support. Funding partnerships play a critical role in helping MAP expand programs, strengthen services, develop innovative initiatives, and increase opportunities for the children and families we serve.

About PromiseFinance

PromiseFinance is MAP's finance, grants, fundraising strategy, institutional giving, and organizational sustainability division. The division works to secure and steward resources that support program growth, operational excellence, innovation, and long-term mission impact.

Role Overview

The Grants Assistant provides administrative, operational, and research support to MAP's grants and institutional giving team. This role helps maintain the systems, communications, calendars, and funding intelligence that support successful grant development efforts across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to the grants and institutional giving team
• Aid in organizing grant records, files, and documentation
• Maintain accurate and organized grant-related information
• Support the preparation of internal reports and grant materials
• Help ensure operational efficiency across grants activities
• Communications & Grantor Relations
• Monitor and manage the grants team email account
• Serve as a liaison between MAP, prospective funders, and current grantors
• Routinely route inquiries and communications to appropriate team members
• Maintain professional and timely correspondence
• Track communication history and follow-up activities
• Schedule & Deadline Management
• Maintain and manage the grants calendar
• Track grant application deadlines and reporting requirements
• Monitor submission schedules and funding timelines
• Coordinate reminders and follow-up activities
• Support planning and scheduling of grants-related activities
• Prospect Research Support
• Research funding opportunities at the local, state, and federal levels
• Identify foundation, corporate, and government grant opportunities
• Aid in prospect identification and pipeline development
• Monitor funding announcements and grant opportunities
• Support research efforts aligned with MAP's mission and strategic priorities
• Database & Grants Tracking
• Maintain grant tracking systems and databases
• Update prospect records, deadlines, and reporting requirements
• Ensure accuracy of funding opportunity information
• Support development of grant prospect pipelines
• Maintain organized institutional knowledge and records
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Support collaboration between grants, programs, finance, and leadership teams
• Aid in gathering information needed for grant planning
• Assist with coordinating grant-related activities and communications
• Support organizational fundraising and development initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest in nonprofit fundraising, grants management, philanthropy, public policy, or nonprofit administration
• Strong organizational and administrative skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Experience with spreadsheets, databases, calendars, or administrative systems preferred
• Passion for mission-driven work and community impact

Why This Role Matters

Successful grants programs depend on strong organization, communication, and attention to detail. The Grants Assistant helps ensure that opportunities are tracked, deadlines are met, relationships are maintained, and the grants team can operate efficiently and effectively. This role helps create the operational foundation that supports funding for programs serving children and families experiencing housing instability.

Success Measures

• Accuracy of grants tracking systems
• Timeliness of deadline management and follow-up activities
• Quality of grantor communications
• Number of funding opportunities identified and tracked
• Organization and completeness of grant records
• Support provided to grants and fundraising initiatives
• Operational efficiency of the grants team

Volunteer Expectations

• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment
• Maintain timely and professional communication
• Collaborate through MAP systems and communication platforms
• Support confidentiality and organizational standards
• Participate in grants and fundraising meetings as needed

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and include their resume and cover letter. Please highlight experience involving administration, fundraising, nonprofit operations, communications, research, project coordination, calendar management, or related fields. Help build the systems and relationships that support greater opportunities for children and families through Mentor A Promise. 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.