ABOUT US
Meet Your Bid Writing Team
I’m Helene Nalson, the founder of Funding Footsteps. Lovely to meet you!
I first ventured into the third sector about 15 years ago, working as part of a team focused on sales and retention of members – the customers. After moving on to other roles, my passion for the charitable sector brought me back to this space, working with a local community interest company. It was here that I rediscovered my drive to help organizations thrive.
Over time, Funding Footsteps evolved from a small idea into a dedicated service for the third sector. I found a love for helping charities, not-for-profits, and community groups navigate the challenges of funding and grow their impact. I understand just how rewarding—but also how demanding—this work can be. Supporting vulnerable individuals, providing essential resources, and creating opportunities for communities is no small task, and I’m proud to be able to contribute to this incredible effort.
My goal is simple: to help those who help others. Using my knowledge and experience, I aim to make a difference by supporting organisations that create real, positive change.
Find out a little more about me away from the desk and chair!
I spent 33 years working for Lloyds Banking Group, where I held a variety of roles including marketing and training, and later progressed into Project and Programme Management. During my time at Lloyds, I delivered personal and professional skills training, and also led a Crisis and Incident Management Team for five years – experience that gave me a strong grounding in leadership, risk management and resilience.
Since moving into the charity sector four years ago, I’ve worked in a variety of operational and strategic roles:
- Calderdale SmartMove – where I led on grant writing, income generation, project and operational management, and supported delivery teams by ensuring effective infrastructure was in place. I also played a key role in partnership work, council reporting, and service delivery.
- Unmasked Mental Health – as Operations Director, I managed the day-to-day running of the organisation, overseeing compliance, grant management, and stakeholder relationships.
- Nest Helping the Homeless – where I currently serve as part-time CEO. My work includes expanding services, launching new initiatives, managing income generation (grants, fundraising, etc.), strengthening partnerships, and ensuring frontline delivery remains responsive and effective.
In addition to my professional roles, I’m actively involved in the voluntary sector. I am:
- Chair of the Board of Trustees at Magpies, a role I’ve held for two years (having been on the board for six), helping to guide strategy and governance for a charity supporting adults with learning disabilities.
- Vice-Chair for Focus4Hope, a grassroots charity I am deeply passionate about, providing support to vulnerable individuals.
- Trustee for CFFC, another organisation that I am deeply committed to, with all of the amazing work they do in Calderdale
I bring a combination of private sector experience, strong operational and leadership skills, and a deep commitment to the third sector community.