Pohai joined the fund development team in May 2024 following two years of administrative and fundraising experience at the Leelanau Township Community Foundation in Northport. As a Major Gifts Officer, he works to secure significant gifts and amplify the Conservancy’s fundraising capacity by building lasting relationships with donors, foundations, and other granting organizations.
Prior to working with local nonprofits, Pohai’s professional experience ranged from multimedia production to teaching English as a second language. He earned a BA from the University of Michigan in 2014 and started his career in filmmaking, living in Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Spain. Born in Hawaii and raised partially in Tennessee, Pohai spent his formative years in Northport. Leelanau’s rural character, natural landscapes, and small town charm appealed greatly to his parents, one of whom had longtime connections to Leelanau. Ancestors on his maternal grandfather’s side were Norwegian immigrants who settled in Suttons Bay in the 1880s.
Pohai’s appreciation for the natural world runs deep. Family road trips and camping adventures throughout the US and beyond introduced him to many parks and wilderness areas. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Pohai relishes time outdoors, whether it’s hiking, trekking, camping, freshwater surfing, cycling back roads, lounging on a beach, or simply being in nature. Elsewhere, he is deeply passionate about soccer as a player, fan, and US Soccer certified referee. Pohai is humbled and inspired to work alongside dedicated staff and board at the Leelanau Conservancy and to engage in essential work to support the organization’s mission.
