2D Animator (Volunteer)

Description

2D Animator (Volunteer)

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Type: Volunteer (Creative Production Role)

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a NYC-based nonprofit serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, and creative expression. Animation allows MAP to tell stories in ways that feel safe, magical, and emotionally accessible—especially for children who have experienced trauma or disruption.

Our animated storytelling brings characters, lessons, and hope to life across digital media, books, and educational platforms.

Role Overview

The 2D Animator brings MAP’s stories, characters, and educational content to life through expressive, trauma-informed animation. This role works closely with writers, illustrators, art directors, and educators to create animated content that is joyful, sensitive, and developmentally appropriate.

This is an ideal role for an animator who wants to use their craft to support healing, literacy, and imagination.

Key Responsibilities

• Animate characters, scenes, and educational content for MAP projects
• Work from storyboards, scripts, and visual assets
• Collaborate with art directors, writers, and editors
• Ensure animation style is warm, inclusive, and child-safe
• Prepare files for web, video, and educational platforms
• Meet project timelines and creative standards

Qualifications

• Experience with 2D animation (Adobe Animate, Toon Boom, After Effects, or similar tools)
• Strong understanding of motion, timing, and visual storytelling
• Ability to animate in expressive, child-friendly styles
• Comfort working collaboratively in a remote creative team
• Alignment with MAP’s trauma-informed and equity-centered mission

Preferred Skills

• Experience with children’s media or educational animation
• Storyboarding or character animation experience
• Familiarity with audio syncing or simple editing
• Interest in social-impact storytelling

Commitment

• Volunteer role
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Fully remote with optional NYC-based collaboration

What You’ll Gain

• A strong portfolio of mission-driven animated work
• Real-world impact through storytelling for children in need
• Collaboration with illustrators, writers, and filmmakers
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• The opportunity to bring hope, joy, and learning to life through animation

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist.

Help turn stories into motion—and motion into meaning for children who need it most.

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.