We’re excited to welcome two new staff members to Strategies for Children: Natalie Van Eron, our new Director of Advancement, and Molly Heald, our new Early Childhood Partnership Coordinator.
Both Natalie and Molly appeared on The 9:30 Call to introduce themselves.
With roots as a Children’s Advocacy and Civil Rights Attorney, Natalie’s career reflects a deep commitment to systemic change that empowers vulnerable populations. Building on her early legal career and passion for children, Natalie has spent two decades in nonprofit fundraising, securing over $100 million to positively impact thousands of lives. Previously, she served as Chief Development Officer at the Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville, Florida, and at The BASE, an urban academy that leverages sports to cultivate success-driven youth engagement.
“For the last three to five years, my focus has been stepping into organizations undergoing transition,” Natalie noted on The 9:30 Call. She excels at providing stability while expanding fundraising infrastructure—a goal she is eager to achieve at Strategies for Children.
Natalie holds a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University and a law degree from the University of Miami. Outside of work, she teaches Pilates, serves as a legal mediator for Harvard Law School, and actively advocates for animal welfare, having helped rescue hundreds of dogs. She cherishes time with her own rescue dog, Chewbacca.
Molly is from California and earned an undergraduate degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of California, San Diego.
Exploring a career in the classroom, Molly worked for two years as a teaching assistant serving first and third grade students.
“[I] really got to see on the ground what it’s like to work with students, seeing not only the child in the classroom but getting to also… help the students navigate the systems outside of the classroom as well,“ she said on The 9:30 Call.
Molly praised the school’s whole child approach, which helped students feel supported both inside and outside of the classroom. This experience led her to Boston University where she has just earned a master’s level Macro Social Work degree in May 2026 to continue supporting students at the systems level.
Molly has also worked as a Policy Fellow at BU’s Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health where she conducted policy research, drafted reports, and developed advocacy materials to help social workers, public health advocates, and others take collective action to protect democracy, advance equity, and build a healthier, more just society.
At Strategies for Children, Molly is coordinating cross-sector partnerships to advance The Early Childhood Agenda by supporting coalition engagement and strengthening collaboration among advocates, policymakers, and community leaders.
Her personal pastimes include leading a women’s group, exploring New England, and finding new coffee shops and local restaurants.
To learn more about Natalie and Molly, check out the The 9:30 Call recording.