Creative Director, Fashion & Impact Storytelling (Volunteer)

Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability, grounded in the belief that every child is a Promise—full of potential, dignity, and possibility. We deliver consistent, high-quality programming across mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, and creative expression in shelters, schools, and community spaces, creating structured environments where students can grow, be seen, and build lasting skills. Through signature experiences like The Imagination Studio, The Kitchen Table, The Sound Lab, and The Story Space, we nurture academic development, emotional well-being, and creative voice, all within a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessibility-centered framework. Our work prioritizes dignity-protective storytelling, consent-driven engagement, and deep community partnership, ensuring that how we serve is as intentional as whom we serve. We are not only addressing immediate needs - we are building pathways to confidence, belonging, and long-term opportunity, so every child has the support and foundation to carry their promise forward.
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Creative Director, Fashion & Impact Storytelling (Volunteer)
PromiseBrands | Thread & Promise — Creative Direction, Fashion Innovation & Mission-Driven Design
Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP)
Division PromiseBrands
Initiative Thread & Promise
Location Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed
Type Volunteer Creative Leadership Role
Commitment Approximately 5–10 hours per week
Minimum Commitment 6-month Commitment Required
Reports To PromiseBrands Executive Leadership
Works Closely With Fashion Designers, Textile Designers, Product Developers, Brand Strategists, PromiseVoice, PromiseStudios, PromisePages, Marketing, Partnerships, and Creative Teams
About Mentor A Promise
Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit organization serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, educational enrichment, workforce development, creative expression, advocacy, and community-centered support.
At MAP, we believe creativity can be a powerful force for meaningful change.
Design can communicate ideas. Fashion can tell stories. Products can create connections. And thoughtful creative initiatives can help organizations reach new communities, strengthen their identities, and develop sustainable ways to support their missions.
We are building an environment where creative professionals can use their expertise not only to produce beautiful work but also to contribute to something larger.
About Thread & Promise
Thread & Promise is a creative design, product innovation, and storytelling initiative within MAP's PromiseBrands division.
The initiative explores how fashion, textiles, product design, cultural storytelling, and responsible innovation can work together to advance social impact.
Our vision is to develop Thread & Promise into a recognizable creative platform where every collection, product, and design initiative has a clear purpose.
We want to explore fashion as a medium for celebrating cultural heritage, expressing identity, connecting communities, raising awareness, and creating meaningful conversations.
At the same time, Thread & Promise will explore innovative products and interdisciplinary design challenges that respond to real-world needs.
From mission-inspired fashion collections to functional textile innovation, Thread & Promise seeks to connect creative excellence with practical purpose.
Our ambition is to build more than a collection of products.
We want to build a creative initiative that contributes to MAP's long-term visibility, partnerships, community engagement, and sustainable growth.
Role Overview
MAP is seeking a visionary, collaborative, and entrepreneurial Creative Director, Fashion & Impact Storytelling to lead the creative development of Thread & Promise.
This is a senior creative leadership opportunity for someone who sees design as both an artistic discipline and a strategic tool for advancing a mission.
The Creative Director will establish Thread & Promise's creative identity, develop its fashion and storytelling direction, guide multidisciplinary design teams, and translate ideas into cohesive collections, products, campaigns, and creative experiences.
The role combines fashion design, creative direction, brand storytelling, product development, team leadership, and mission-driven innovation.
Working with PromiseBrands leadership, the Creative Director will help answer important questions
What should Thread & Promise represent?
What makes our creative work distinctive?
How can fashion tell meaningful human stories?
How can design celebrate culture, identity, and belonging?
How can we transform creative ideas into products people connect with?
How can fashion and design strengthen MAP's public presence and community engagement?
How can responsible product development create opportunities to support our mission?
How do we build a creative initiative that is both artistically meaningful and organizationally sustainable?
We are looking for someone who can turn these questions into a compelling creative vision and an achievable plan.
Key Responsibilities
Creative Vision & Strategic Direction
Establish and lead Thread & Promise's creative vision and design philosophy
Develop a recognizable creative identity aligned with MAP's mission
Define the visual, conceptual, and storytelling direction of fashion collections and design initiatives
Establish creative standards for originality, quality, consistency, and responsible representation
Develop short- and long-term creative priorities
Identify opportunities to expand Thread & Promise's creative reach and relevance
Translate strategic objectives into actionable creative projects
Present creative concepts and recommendations to PromiseBrands leadership
Fashion Design & Collection Leadership
Lead the creative development of apparel, accessories, textiles, and fashion collections
Establish themes, concepts, color palettes, silhouettes, materials, and visual direction
Guide designers through research, ideation, sketching, refinement, and design review
Oversee collection mood boards, creative briefs, and design presentations
Evaluate concepts for originality, storytelling, feasibility, and audience relevance
Coordinate with product development teams on technical specifications and production considerations
Support the development of capsule collections, limited-edition releases, and signature design concepts
Ensure collections reflect a cohesive creative identity
Impact Storytelling Through Design
Establish storytelling as a central element of Thread & Promise's creative philosophy
Develop collections inspired by meaningful human experiences and social themes
Translate stories into thoughtful visual and material design concepts
Collaborate with writers, researchers, artists, and community partners
Develop narratives that explain the inspiration and purpose behind collections
Ensure storytelling is authentic, respectful, and grounded in appropriate research
Create opportunities for fashion to communicate ideas that extend beyond traditional merchandise
Encourage designs that inspire curiosity, connection, and conversation
Potential storytelling themes include
Identity and belonging
Cultural heritage
Immigration and personal journeys
Family traditions
Resilience and hope
Childhood and imagination
Education and opportunity
Community and connection
Creativity and self-expression
Accessibility and inclusion
Human dignity and shared experiences
Brand Identity & Creative Positioning
Shape Thread & Promise's visual identity and creative positioning
Develop creative guidelines for fashion, product design, packaging, and storytelling
Establish consistent visual and narrative standards across collections
Collaborate with brand strategists on audience positioning and differentiation
Support the development of recognizable signature design elements
Help define how Thread & Promise communicates its connection to Mentor A Promise
Ensure the initiative develops an authentic identity rather than relying on generic nonprofit merchandise
Creative Team Leadership
Lead, mentor, and coordinate fashion designers and other creative contributors
Help recruit and develop a multidisciplinary creative team
Establish clear responsibilities, project ownership, and design expectations
Facilitate creative planning and review sessions
Provide constructive feedback and professional guidance
Encourage experimentation while maintaining creative discipline
Support emerging designers in developing their skills
Build a collaborative environment where diverse creative perspectives are valued
Establish practical workflows for concept development, design approval, and project deli

Work arrangement
Yes