Director of Publishing & Distribution; Volunteer

Director of Publishing & Distribution (Volunteer)
Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP)
• Division Storytelling, Literacy & Publishing (Promise Press)
• Location Remote via Google Meet and/or New York City
Type Volunteer (Unpaid)

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability. Through mentorship, literacy development, academic enrichment, social-emotional learning, creative expression, and community-centered storytelling, MAP creates safe, consistent, and empowering spaces where young people and families can thrive.

Promise Press is MAP’s publishing and distribution arm, responsible for children’s books, literacy materials, blogs, newsletters, curriculum-aligned content, and digital publications. Our goal is not simply to publish—but to ensure meaningful access, ethical dissemination, and real-world reach for stories that center dignity, resilience, and lived experience.

The Director of Publishing & Distribution is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing how MAP’s written and published work moves from creation to audience. This role exists to ensure that high-quality content is strategically published, thoughtfully distributed, and equitably accessible
—especially to the communities MAP serves.

This is not a marketing-only role. It is a systems, strategy, and stewardship position at the intersection of publishing, logistics, partnerships, and access.

• Publishing Strategy & Oversight
  • Lead publishing strategy across Promise Press, including children’s books, educational materials, blogs, and digital publications.
  • Oversee publishing timelines, formats (print, digital, hybrid), and release planning.
  • Coordinate closely with Editorial Director, Senior Writers, and Multimedia teams to align content readiness with distribution plans.
  • Ensure publishing practices reflect ethical, trauma-informed, and child-centered standards.

• Distribution & Access
  • Design and manage distribution pathways for books and materials (schools, shelters, community partners, digital platforms).
  • Build relationships with printers, distributors, libraries, schools, and nonprofit partners.
  • Explore equitable distribution models that prioritize access over profit.
  • Support inventory planning, fulfillment coordination, and basic logistics (as appropriate for a nonprofit context).

• Partnerships & Reach
  • Collaborate with Development, Programs, and Education teams to align publishing efforts with program delivery and funding goals.
  • Support partnerships with educators, shelters, literacy organizations, and community hubs.
  • Identify opportunities for broader reach through grants, donations, or institutional partnerships.

• Quality Control & Systems
  • Establish clear publishing workflows, documentation, and handoffs between editorial, design, and distribution teams.
  • Monitor timelines, bottlenecks, and operational risks.
  • Support continuous improvement of publishing and distribution systems.
  • Check and respond to emails daily, with responses within 48 hours.

MAP treats publishing and distribution as mission-critical work. In this role, you can expect

• Clear leadership scope and decision-making authority
• Close collaboration with editorial, education, and executive leadership
• Respect for time, capacity, and sustainability
• Transparent goals and collaborative problem-solving
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Recognition of publishing leadership as strategic stewardship, not logistics-only labor

• Experience in publishing operations, distribution, content strategy, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of print and/or digital publishing workflows.
• Ability to think systemically about access, reach, and equity in distribution.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and coordination skills.
• Comfort working across creative, operational, and programmatic teams.
• Commitment to literacy, equity, and mission-driven dissemination of content.

• Experience with children’s publishing or educational materials
• Familiarity with…