Screenwriter (Volunteer)

Job Position(s): Screenwriter (Volunteer)

 

Screenwriter (Volunteer)

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: Storytelling & Media

Programs: PromisePress, Children’s Stories, Animation, Short Films & Digital Series

Location: Remote via Google Meet and/or New York City (as needed)

Type: Volunteer (Unpaid)

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability. Through mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, creative expression, and storytelling, MAP builds spaces where young people are seen, heard, and valued.

MAP’s Storytelling & Media Division creates original children’s stories, films, animations, and digital series that reflect resilience, imagination, identity, and hope—without exploitation, stereotyping, or sensationalism.

About the Role

The Screenwriter develops scripted content that brings MAP’s stories to life across film, animation, and digital platforms. This role focuses on writing narratives that are age-appropriate, culturally responsive, emotionally safe, and ethically grounded.

At MAP, screenwriting is not about spectacle—it is about careful storytelling that respects the humanity of children and families.

Key Responsibilities

• Write original scripts for short films, animated stories, and digital series.
• Adapt children’s books, poems, and educational concepts into screen-ready scripts.
• Develop compelling characters, dialogue, and story arcs rooted in empathy and growth.
• Collaborate with directors, animators, producers, educators, and youth advisors.
• Integrate social-emotional learning themes in subtle, engaging ways.
• Participate in script reviews and revise drafts based on constructive feedback.
• Maintain organized drafts, notes, and revisions.
• Check and respond to emails daily, with responses within 48 hours.
• Take responsibility for performance improvement by refining craft and incorporating feedback.

Qualifications

• Experience in screenwriting, playwriting, or narrative storytelling.
• Strong understanding of story structure, pacing, and dialogue.
• Ability to write for children and youth with sensitivity and care.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
• Openness to feedback and iterative development.
• Commitment to inclusive, trauma-informed storytelling.

Bonus (Not Required)

• Experience with children’s media, animation, or educational content
• Familiarity with Final Draft, Celtx, or similar tools
• Background in education, youth development, or nonprofit storytelling
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities (Spanish or Haitian Creole preferred)

Commitment

• Volunteer role, approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Remote collaboration via Google Meet, with optional NYC-based projects
• MAP prioritizes sustainability, clarity, and respect for creative labor

What You’ll Gain

• Portfolio-ready screenwriting credits tied to meaningful impact
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary creative teams
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• The opportunity to help shape stories that center dignity, resilience, and imagination

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist.

For any additional questions or concerns, please email us directly at hr@mentorapromise.org

Write with purpose — help create stories that reflect care, possibility, and the full humanity of the children Mentor A Promise serves.