Director of Strategic Partnerships (Volunteer)

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.