Jena Pado, CFRE

Jena Pado has more than 25 years of fundraising experience and currently serves as Vice President, Chief Development Officer for Dayton Children’s Hospital. Jena has been a part of the foundation team at Dayton Children’s for more than 20 years.  

In 2004, Jena joined Dayton Children’s as a Major Gifts Officer. After successful completion of the Be a Hero Campaign, Jena was promoted to Director of Major Gifts where she coordinated philanthropic efforts for the Soin Pediatric Trauma & Emergency Center. Jena went on to lead her team to raise a record-breaking amount of for the hospital’s 8-story patient tower. In 2017, she led the reorganization of Dayton Children’s Hospital Foundation and was appointed as the Executive Director and most recently was named Vice President, Chief Development Officer

As the leader of the foundation, Jena sets the strategic vision for securing donations from all funding sources for the hospital. Leading team of professionals, she crafts the fundraising strategy and manages Dayton Children’s Hospital Foundation Board. Currently she is spearheading the Do. More. so all kids thrive comprehensive campaign, including fundraising priorities for removing barriers, advancing care and elevating mental health. She is working closely with hospital leadership on supporting the Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness, opening in the summer of 2025. 

Since moving to Dayton in 2004, Jena has actively volunteered in her community including with the Dayton Ballet, Dayton Public School Foundation, Dayton Rotary and YWCA Dayton. Jena has also served on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Greater Dayton Region Chapter for seven years and held several positions including National Philanthropy Day Chair and Chapter President. On a national level, she was named to the Board of Governors for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in 2024.

Jena earned a Bachelor of Science, Political Science from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. She obtained her Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) in 2007. She was selected for the Dayton Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award in 2008 and named Top 25 Women to Watch by the Women in Business Networking (WiBN) in 2013. In 2016, she was honored at National Philanthropy Day as the Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the AFP Greater Dayton Region Chapter. Just last year she was honored as CDO of the Year by Children’s Miracle Network. 
 

topics for media interviews:

• Health care philanthropy
• Children's Miracle Network
• Community outreach and events

If you are interested in speaking to one of our leaders or experts at Dayton Children's please contact Stacy Porter at 937-641-3666 or by email at porters@childrensdayton.org.