Abby Poklar

Ms. Poklar serves as Vice President for Philanthropy & Institutional Alignment for COSI. In this role, Ms. Poklar is responsible for leading COSI’s development and membership programs, raising vital revenue in support of the COSI’s mission and vision. Ms. Poklar previously served as COSI’s Senior Director of Development.

Prior to her tenure with COSI, Ms. Poklar served as the Director of Advancement for the Capital Area Humane Society (now Columbus Humane), a non-profit animal welfare organization. Ms. Poklar was responsible for leading the Humane Society’s development, marketing, and volunteer programs as well as serving as the organization’s media spokesperson. During Ms. Poklar’s six years of leadership, donations to the Humane Society increased by 122 percent and attendance at the organization’s signature fundraiser more than tripled. Ms. Poklar was responsible for forging a new partnership with a regional bank, which led to the creation of an affinity card program and more than 30,000 Paws Banking accounts established and branded banking cards issued in the first year of the program.

With more than 20 years cumulative service to COSI, Ms. Poklar started her professional career in 1995 as a key member of the COSI

on the Riverfront capital campaign team, which raised more than $50 million in private funding to support the science center’s move to the Scioto Peninsula. Ms. Poklar served ten years in positions of greater responsibility including Manager of Foundation & Government Support, Director of Annual Giving, and Director of Major Gifts.

Ms. Poklar earned a B.S in Communications and a M.S in Marketing & Communications from Franklin University and is a graduate of

Leadership Columbus.