Updated August 27, 2026

3 Month Project - Remote

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Project Overview
 

Do you want to use your instructional design skills to protect nonprofits from cyber threats?

Our nonprofit 501Secure.org program is seeking a talented and motivated volunteer Instructional Designer for a 3-month project to update and refresh a publicly accessible, self-paced cybersecurity awareness training course. This 1-hour course, built in Articulate Rise, is provided as a free community service to nonprofits that lack the staffing or budget to run annual cybersecurity compliance training for their remote teams.

 

This training is one half of our annual two-part cybersecurity awareness offering. You will collaborate directly with our Program Manager and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to translate complex, technical topics into a practical, human-centered learning experience.

 

This is a high-impact, independent role perfect for someone who wants to build a high-quality instructional product and gain valuable, portfolio-worthy experience.

 

About the 501Secure Program at Ragland Institute

We are a nonprofit program dedicated to reducing nonprofits' vulnerability to cyberattacks. We help leadership, operations, and IT staff secure their remote work environments, increase cybersecurity risk awareness, and implement security and compliance governance. We are committed to providing free resources and affordable services tailored to the needs of nonprofits and the professionals who protect them.

 

We provide vendor-neutral guidance and personalized mentorship, affordable live remote staff training, integrated cybersecurity and awareness program development, and framework-based cybersecurity risk assessments and planning.

 

We specialize in helping organizations new to cybersecurity formalize their online security and compliance efforts. We take a long view to building sustainable relationships with the nonprofits we serve. Building a culture of security takes time, typically years. We encourage our nonprofit clients to grow with us as their understanding of the cybersecurity landscape develops and their organization's needs change.

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Commitment

Each year we offer a 60-minute self-paced tutorial as a companion to our free live awareness training during the months of January, February, and March. Nonprofits sign up for the two-part compliance training during October and November of the previous year. We seek a volunteer willing and able to commit to updating the tutorial by the end of December 2026 for use during the 2027 training season.

 

• Duration: 3 months (Remote)

• Estimated Effort: 15 hours per month; Expect to attend one regularly scheduled remote meeting most weeks, otherwise, your contributions can be made on a flexible schedule.

• Compensation: Volunteer / Unpaid

• Portfolio Credit: You will receive group author credit for this year's release and full permission to showcase the finished course and related assets in your professional portfolio.

• Volunteer Onboarding: You will attend remote meetings and complete training for the role of approximately 5 hours before hands-on work begins.
   

What You’ll Do

• Review and update the existing 1-hour Articulate Rise course to address current cybersecurity threats and best practices for remote nonprofit teams.

• Partner with the Program Manager and SMEs to identify content gaps and refine learning objectives.

• Develop engaging instructional assets, which may include:

• Short video scripts and basic video/audio elements

• Custom graphics, diagrams, and callout sidebars

• Interactive knowledge checks, scenario-based quizzes, and activities

• Downloadable job aids, checklists, and resource lists

• Find creative design solutions within the capabilities of Articulate Rise and Adobe Creative Cloud.

 

What We’re Looking For

• Education & Experience: Current master’s degree student or recent master's program graduate in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or Learning Experience Design.

• Portfolio Required: A sample body of work showcasing your design approach (course samples, storyboards, or visual media). Projects completed as part of your master’s coursework are completely acceptable, as long as they contain examples of Articulate Rise projects.

• Core Technical and Creative Skills:

• Demonstrated hands-on experience using Articulate Rise.

• Working proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, Firefly, Express, etc.) or comparable media tools for asset creation.

• Communication: Ability to break down technical concepts into clear, accessible language for non-technical learners. Prior exposure to technical environments or IT concepts is a plus, but not required.

• Creativity: A resourceful mindset and the ability to design engaging, high-impact learning experiences with standard authoring tools.

 

What You Bring

• You must own a computer and monitor capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud and Articulate Rise

• Reliable connection to high-speed broadband internet

• Enthusiasm and interest (and ideally some experience but not required) in developing safety awareness campaigns and compliance courses

• Availability, integrity, and commitment to see your 3-month project through to completion

 

Why Volunteer with 501Secure?
 

Build Learning that Makes an Impact: You will contribute to community e-Learning that promotes cybersecurity safety within the nonprofit sector.

 

Mission-Driven Work: Your design work directly contributes to strengthening the cyber safety of organizations that work hard each day to make our communities better places to live.

 

Build Your Portfolio: Gain real-world experience in instructional design for a highly specialized, mission-aligned organization.

 

We welcome career changers, retirees, and recent graduates. If you do not have 100% of the specific qualifications, or if you have achieved these requirements through unconventional methods, we encourage you to apply.

 

To Apply: Please send a resume and a thoughtful cover letter/email (no longer than one page) to kai@501Secure.org with the subject line "Instructional Designer (Volunteer)".

 

In your cover letter or email, please address these four questions:

• Why are you interested in volunteering as an Instructional Designer for the 501Secure program at this time in your career?

• What is the ideal number of weekly hours you are seeking to contribute, and what days of the week would you ideally wish to reserve for this role?

• What are some highlights of your previous experience that most closely align with this role and the desired qualifications above?

• What would you like to achieve through volunteering that would further your personal and/or professional goals?

 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Volunteer applicants must currently reside in the United States. People of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

 

Compensation: Unpaid volunteer

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