Project Manager – PromiseRooted (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. , Project Manager – PromiseRooted (Volunteer) PromisePrograms | In-Person Youth Programs, Community Partnerships & Program Operations Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP) Division PromisePrograms Program PromiseRooted Location Fully Remote — United States Type Volunteer Project Management Role Commitment Approximately 5–10 hours per week Minimum Commitment 6 months Reports To PromiseRooted / Program Leadership Works Closely With Program Coordinators, Community Partners, Mentors, Facilitators, Volunteers, PromiseLearning, PromisePeople, PromiseBridge, PromiseMeasure, and other MAP teams About Mentor A Promise Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit organization serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, literacy, social-emotional learning, enrichment, creative expression, career development, advocacy, and community-centered opportunity. Our programs are built around more than individual activities. They are built around relationships, consistency, dignity, opportunity, and the belief that young people deserve adults and communities that continue showing up for them. About PromiseRooted PromiseRooted is MAP's in-person youth programming model, delivered in partnership with shelters, family residences, community organizations, and other locations serving children and families. Programming may include mentorship, literacy, homework support, arts, music, cooking, movement, creative expression, educational enrichment, social-emotional learning, workshops, family engagement, and special experiences. PromiseRooted brings together MAP team members, mentors, facilitators, community partners, and volunteers around a shared goal Create consistent, meaningful experiences where young people can learn, explore, connect, create, and belong. The Opportunity Great youth programs do not begin when the first child enters the room. They begin weeks earlier. Someone builds the plan. Someone coordinates the partner. Someone confirms the facilitator. Someone tracks the materials. Someone identifies the risk. Someone follows up when a deadline is missed. Someone makes sure all the moving pieces eventually become one coherent experience. MAP is seeking a highly organized, proactive, and mission-driven Project Manager to help make that happen for PromiseRooted. The role connects Idea → Plan → People → Partner → Timeline → Preparation → Program Delivery → Follow-Up → Improvement Although PromiseRooted programming is delivered in person, the Project Manager position itself is fully remote. You will work behind the scenes to help the people delivering programs in person arrive prepared, informed, coordinated, and ready to focus on young people. Project Management Manage PromiseRooted projects and initiatives from planning through completion. Develop project plans that clearly identify ObjectivesScopeDeliverablesOwnersContributorsCommunity-partner dependenciesMilestonesDeadlinesResourcesRisksFollow-up Maintain visibility across active work and help ensure important projects continue moving forward. Program Planning & Readiness Help translate PromiseRooted's program goals into executable plans. Before programming begins, help answer What are we doing? Why are we doing it? Who is responsible? Who is facilitating? What does the community partner need? What do mentors need? What materials are required? What needs to happen first? What could prevent the program from being ready? What still needs a decision? Help establish clear readiness expectations so teams are prepared before arriving at program locations. Community Partner Coordination Community partnerships are essential to PromiseRooted. Work with Program Coordinators, PromiseBridge, program leadership, and approved community-partner contacts to help coordinate operational needs across program sites. This may include Program schedulesPartner meetingsSite needsUpcoming activitiesSpecial workshopsCalendar changesProgram resourcesFacilitator coordinationAgreed-upon responsibilitiesAction itemsFollow-upEscalation of unresolved issues Partners may include shelters, family residences, schools, community-based organizations, nonprofits, and other organizations serving children and families. Strong partnerships require more than an agreement. They require consistent execution. Program Calendar & Project Roadmap Help maintain visibility across PromiseRooted's programming calendar and major initiatives. Coordinate project milestones around weekly programming, seasonal activities, workshops, family engagement, special events, new program launches, community-partner initiatives, and other PromiseRooted priorities. Help leadership understand What's happening? What's next? What's ready? What's behind? What's waiting on someone else? What needs a decision? What requires attention now? Cross-Functional Coordination PromiseRooted depends on expertise from across MAP. Coordinate projects involving teams such as PromiseLearningPromisePeoplePromiseBridgePromiseMeasurePromiseTeachPromiseStudiosPromisePagesPromiseVoicePromiseBrandsOther program and creative teams A literacy initiative may require educators, writers, mentors, and community partners. A music experience may require facilitators, creatives, program staff, and site coordination. A family workshop may require program leadership, community partners, presenters, communications, and materials. The Project Manager helps those contributions become one coordinated initiative. Mentor, Facilitator & Volunteer Coordination Work with Program Coordinators and program leadership to support the people delivering PromiseRooted activities. Help ensure mentors, facilitators, educators, and volunteers receive appropriate information regarding Program schedulesAssignmentsDeadlinesActivitiesMaterialsChangesExpectationsPreparationFollow-up The Project Manager does not replace volunteer management or program leadership. The role creates the project structure that helps everyone work together effectively. Project Tracking Develop and maintain practical project trackers that allow leadership to quickly understand the status of PromiseRooted initiatives. Track areas such as ProjectsDeliverablesOwnersDeadlinesDependenciesPartner needsResource needsOpen decisionsRisksAction itemsCompletion status Project-management systems should create clarity, not unnecessary bureaucracy. Meeting & Action Management Support planning and project meetings when appropriate. Help ensure meetings result in Discussion → Decision → Owner → Deadline → Follow-Up → Completion Document key decisions and action items. Follow up on outstanding responsibilities. Help prevent important commitments from disappearing after a meeting ends. Risk & Dependency Management Identify issues that could affect program readiness or delivery. Potential risks may include Missing facilitatorVolunteer coverage gapsCommunity-partner scheduling changesMissing materialsDelayed approvalsUnclear responsibilitiesCross-team dependenciesCommunication gapsTechnology needsResource limitationsAccessibility considerationsWeather or site disruptionsLast-minute program changes Surface concerns early. The goal is not to eliminate every unexpected situation. It is to reduce the number of situations that become emergencies simply because nobody identified them soon enough. Program Launches & Special Initiatives Provide project-management support when PromiseRooted launches a new program, partner location, workshop series, seasonal initiative, or special experience. Help coordinate Concept → Scope → Partner → Team → Timeline → Resources → Readiness → Launch → Follow-Up New ideas should have a clear path from approval to implementation. Documentation & Program Systems Help maintain organized operational documentation for PromiseRooted projects. This may include Project plansProgram calendarsPartner informationMeeting notesAction itemsProgram schedulesResource listsActivity plansProject trackersFacilitator informationProcess documentsProgram updatesLessons learned Important program knowledge should not live only in someone's inbox or memory. Program Quality & Continuous Improvement Work with program leadership and PromiseMeasure to help PromiseRooted learn from implementation. After significant projects or initiatives, help ask What worked? What did young people respond to? What did mentors experience? What did community partners observe? Where did coordination break down? What should we repeat? What should we change? What did we learn that should influence the next project? Help close the project loop Plan → Prepare → Deliver → Evaluate → Learn → Improve Youth Experience At The Center This is a project-management role, but the ultimate measure of the work is not whether a tracker is complete. It is whether strong project management contributes to stronger experiences for young people. A confirmed facilitator matters. Materials arriving on time matters. A partner understanding the plan matters. A mentor knowing what to expect matters. A schedule being communicated clearly matters. Children should not experience organizational confusion that adults could have prevented. Strong project management protects the program experience. Safeguarding & Youth Protection Because PromiseRooted serves children and youth, safeguarding must be integrated into program planning and operations. The Project Manager must follow MAP requirements related to youth protection, confidentiality, privacy, professional boundaries, authorized communication, and appropriate information handling. Program timelines or operational urgency should never override safeguarding requirements. Any youth-safety concern must be escalated through MAP's established safeguarding procedures. The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is someone who can look at a program with many moving pieces and create clarity. You may be a Project ManagerProgram ManagerNonprofit Project ManagerEducation Project ManagerYouth Program ManagerCommunity Program ManagerOperations Project ManagerProject Coordinator ready for greater ownershipCommunity-engagement professional with strong project-management experience You are likely someone who Turns ideas into executable plansNaturally creates structureThinks several steps aheadNotices gaps before others doCommunicates clearlyFollows through consistentlyCan manage several projects simultaneouslyBuilds positive working relationshipsIs comfortable coordinating across organizationsKnows when to escalate an issueRemains organized when plans changeUnderstands that details affect people's experiencesCan work independently in a remote environmentBelieves strong systems should make human-centered work easier, not more bureaucratic Qualifications Strong candidates may bring experience in Project managementProgram managementYouth programsEducationNonprofit operationsCommunity programsCommunity partnershipsVolunteer coordinationSocial servicesEvent or workshop coordinationCross-functional project management Candidates should demonstrate Strong project-management skillsExcellent organization and attention to detailAbility to manage multiple workstreamsStrong written and verbal communicationAbility to build and maintain timelinesStrong follow-throughAbility to coordinate cross-functional contributorsComfort working with community partnersAbility to identify risks and dependenciesProblem-solving skillsSound judgmentReliability and responsivenessRespect for confidentiality and safeguardingCommitment to MAP's mission and valuesResidence in the United States Experience with youth-serving organizations, shelters, education, community-based programs, or nonprofits is valuable but not required for an exceptional project manager who is committed to learning. What Success Looks Like PromiseRooted projects have clear plans. Program teams understand priorities. Community partners know what to expect. Owners and deadlines are visible. Mentors and facilitators receive information in time to prepare. Cross-functional teams understand their responsibilities. Program launches are organized. Meetings produce action. Risks are surfaced early. Leadership can quickly understand project status. Follow-up happens consistently. Lessons from one initiative strengthen the next. And young people experience programs that feel thoughtful, prepared, welcoming, and consistent because the adults behind those experiences are working from a coordinated plan. What You'll Gain This role offers meaningful project-management experience within a growing youth-serving nonprofit. You will have opportunities to coordinate projects across youth programming, education, community partnerships, volunteer engagement, creative programming, nonprofit operations, and organizational collaboration. You will work with people from different disciplines while developing experience in Project planningProgram operationsCommunity-partner coordinationCross-functional leadershipRisk managementStakeholder communicationProgram launchesProcess improvementYouth-serving nonprofit operations You will not simply observe programs. You will help build the systems that allow them to happen. Why This Role Matters A young person should arrive at a MAP program and experience possibility. They should not have to know that ten people coordinated behind the scenes to make that moment happen. They should not know someone spent days confirming the facilitator. Or followed up three times about materials. Or reorganized a schedule. Or coordinated with a community partner. Or caught a problem before it reached the program site. They should simply experience a program that is ready for them. That is the power of excellent project management. The Project Manager – PromiseRooted helps turn many moving pieces into one experience where young people can focus on what matters Learning. Creating. Connecting. Exploring. Growing. Belonging. Volunteer Commitment This is an unpaid, fully remote volunteer position requiring approximately 5–10 hours per week with a minimum six-month commitment. Consistent participation, communication, organization, collaboration, and reliable follow-through are essential. Volunteers should provide at least two weeks' notice when ending their service whenever possible. How To Apply Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and submit A current résuméA cover letter describing their interest in project management, youth programming, and Mentor A Promise Candidates should highlight relevant experience managing projects, coordinating programs, working with community partners, supporting youth-serving initiatives, or bringing complex workstreams from planning through completion. We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate that they do more than maintain a task list—they create clarity, anticipate challenges, connect people, and help teams turn plans into successful experiences. At this time, MAP volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, compliance, and programmatic requirements. Bring structure to the mission. Connect the people behind the program. Anticipate what comes next. Help PromiseRooted turn thoughtful plans into consistent experiences—and make sure that when young people arrive, we are ready for them. I kept the role fully remote while making it unmistakable that the person is managing projects that ultimately support in-person PromiseRooted delivery. I also separated it clearly from the Program Coordinator the Project Manager owns larger initiatives, timelines, dependencies, launches, risks, and cross-functional execution, while coordinators can handle recurring day-to-day program logistics.