Chief of Policy, Advocacy & Public Engagement (Volunteer)

Chief of Policy, Advocacy & Public Engagement (Volunteer)

PromisePublic | Policy Architecture, Systems Change & Public Trust Governance

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location: Hybrid / Remote (NYC-based collaboration preferred)

Type: Volunteer (Executive Leadership)

Reports To: Executive Director (CEO)

Works Closely With: PromisePublic, PromiseStories, PromiseBrands, PromiseFinance, PromiseMeasure, PromiseLearning, Partnerships Team, Legal & Compliance

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—creating pathways to stability, opportunity, and long-term transformation.

MAP operates at the intersection of direct service and systems change.

We do not only respond to conditions—we work to reshape them.

About PromisePublic | Policy, Advocacy & Public Trust

PromisePublic is MAP’s systems-change and public engagement division—responsible for policy architecture, advocacy strategy, and the governance of public trust.

The division ensures that MAP’s external voice and influence are:

• Grounded in lived experience
• Structurally aligned with mission and evidence
• Legally compliant within nonprofit frameworks
• Capable of influencing systems without compromising institutional integrity

Role Overview

We are seeking a Chief of Policy, Advocacy & Public Engagement to architect, govern, and operationalize MAP’s policy, advocacy, and public engagement systems.

This is not a traditional advocacy role.

This is a systems leadership position responsible for defining how a nonprofit:

• Translates lived experience into policy insight
• Engages systems without violating legal or ethical boundaries
• Builds influence while preserving public trust

The Chief serves as the institutional authority on policy, advocacy, and public engagement, ensuring that all external-facing work is strategic, compliant, and structurally coherent.

Core Responsibilities

Policy Architecture & Institutional Positioning

• Design and govern MAP’s policy architecture aligned with mission and programmatic realities
• Translate lived experience, program data, and research into structured policy frameworks
• Establish MAP’s institutional positions across key issue areas

Advocacy Systems & Strategy

• Build and oversee advocacy systems that operate within nonprofit lobbying regulations
• Define strategic pathways for influencing policy at local, state, and national levels
• Establish internal doctrine for advocacy engagement, escalation, and alignment

Public Engagement & Trust Systems

• Architect systems for public engagement, community voice, and accountability
• Ensure that public-facing work builds trust, transparency, and ethical representation
• Center lived experience without exploitation or misrepresentation

Government Relations & External Influence

• Oversee institutional relationships with policymakers, agencies, and public institutions
• Guide legislative engagement, testimony, and policy briefings
• Represent MAP in high-level external forums and strategic conversations

Narrative, Messaging & Alignment

• Partner with PromiseBrands and PromiseStories to ensure narrative coherence across advocacy work
• Ensure all messaging is accurate, ethically grounded, and aligned with policy priorities
• Prevent prohibited political activity, misrepresentation, or reputational risk

Compliance, Risk & Governance

• Serve as the internal authority on nonprofit advocacy compliance and lobbying boundaries
• Partner with Legal & Compliance to mitigate regulatory and reputational risk
• Establish and enforce internal policies governing advocacy and public engagement

Cross-Division Integration & Impact Alignment

• Collaborate with PromiseMeasure to integrate data, evaluation, and impact reporting into policy work
• Align advocacy priorities with programmatic insights from PromiseLearning and PromiseRise
• Ensure coherence between service delivery and systems-level engagement

Executive Leadership & Organizational Influence

• Advise the CEO and executive leadership on policy positioning and strategic direction
• Build internal capacity for responsible advocacy across teams
• Maintain timely, professional responsiveness via Google Workspace

Qualifications

Required

• 10+ years of leadership in public policy, advocacy, government relations, or systems change
• Deep understanding of nonprofit legal frameworks, including lobbying and advocacy compliance
• Proven ability to design and execute high-level advocacy and policy strategies
• Experience engaging with government, coalitions, and institutional stakeholders
• Exceptional strategic thinking, judgment, and communication skills
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values

Preferred

• Advanced degree in public policy, law, political science, or related field
• Experience in nonprofit, government, or public-sector leadership
• Expertise in housing, education, youth development, or social policy
• Experience building coalitions and influencing systems-level change

Commitment

• Volunteer executive leadership role
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Hybrid / remote with optional NYC-based engagement

What You’ll Gain

• Executive authority in shaping policy and systems change within a mission-driven organization
• Direct partnership with the CEO and senior leadership team
• Opportunity to define a model for ethical, compliant nonprofit advocacy
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• A meaningful role advancing structural change for youth and families

How to Apply

Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit:

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required) describing relevant policy, advocacy, or leadership experience and interest in MAP’s mission

Build the system that turns lived experience into policy—

and policy into lasting, responsible change.

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.