Instructional Designer (Volunteer)

Description

Instructional Designer (Volunteer)

Learning Design & Educational Programs

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Type: Volunteer (Learning Design & Curriculum Role)

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning (SEL), and creative expression. MAP designs learning experiences that are safe, engaging, culturally responsive, and grounded in dignity.

Instructional design at MAP is not abstract—it directly shapes how young people learn, regulate emotions, build skills, and experience consistency during instability.

Role Overview

The Instructional Designer (Volunteer) supports the design, development, and refinement of MAP’s educational and SEL-based learning materials. This role translates program goals, trauma-informed practices, and developmental needs into structured, accessible learning experiences for children and youth.

The Instructional Designer collaborates with educators, program leaders, writers, and researchers to ensure materials are effective, age-appropriate, and aligned with MAP’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and refine instructional materials for youth programs, SEL curricula, and learning modules
• Translate program goals into clear learning objectives and outcomes
• Apply trauma-informed, child-centered, and culturally responsive instructional strategies
• Support development of lesson plans, facilitator guides, and learning activities
• Review and improve existing materials for clarity, accessibility, and engagement
• Align instructional content with developmental stages (K–12 as applicable)
• Collaborate with program, research, and creative teams
• Support evaluation and iteration based on feedback and outcomes

Qualifications

• Experience in instructional design, curriculum development, education, or learning sciences
• Strong understanding of learning objectives, scaffolding, and assessment
• Ability to design for diverse learners and learning environments
• Comfort collaborating with educators, writers, and program teams
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and trauma-informed values

Preferred Skills

• Experience with SEL, youth development, or trauma-informed education
• Familiarity with Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
• Experience designing for informal or nonprofit learning environments
• Comfort working with digital or blended learning formats
• Background in education, psychology, or instructional technology

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

• Hands-on experience designing mission-driven educational content
• Collaboration with educators, researchers, and program leaders
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• The opportunity to shape learning experiences for youth facing instability
• A meaningful role in advancing equity-centered education

How to Apply

Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit:

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required) describing instructional design experience and interest in MAP’s mission
• Sample work (lesson plan, curriculum, or learning design sample preferred)

Help design learning experiences that offer structure, safety, and possibility—when young people 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.