Who is Barbara Talisman?

Barbara Talisman is Vice President at The Pursuant Group. She has more than 20 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit consulting and will serve as a strategic consultant to Ketchum and Pursuant Agency clients.  Barbara.Talisman@PursuantGroup.com or 312.733.7520.

Barbara brings her experience in fundraising, board development, executive coaching as well as facilitating workshops at conferences worldwide. Talisman clients include human service, healthcare, education, international affairs and arts organizations. Barbara started fundraising on the campaign trail and started her nonprofit fundraising with the American Heart Association and continued at the Anti-Defamation League.

She is a well-known and well-respected industry leader with expertise that includes board and membership development, donor cultivation programs, major gift solicitation and grant writing, volunteer recruitment and corporate partnership. A social media early adopter, she demonstrates her talents and proficiency in online communication through her presence on, Twitter, an e-mail newsletter and her blog, Talisman Thinking Out Loud. Barbara also has a radio show called Making a Difference, where she interviews nonprofit thought leaders who share how they are inspiring change and rising to meet challenges with solutions that effectively advance their causes.

Barbara is an Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) certified Master Trainer. She speaks at industry conferences around the world and leads workshops on many fundraising and nonprofit topics. Barbara has written for influential industry publications including Fund Raising Management, Fundraising Success, Advancing Philanthropy and Clout. A member of the AFP Chicago, Barbara was honored with the President's Award from the Chicago chapter for her outstanding service to the chapter and to the fundraising profession.

Barbara holds a Bachelor's degree from Case Western Reserve University. She has continued her education through workshops and classes at ZingTrain, BoardSource, The Institute for Charitable Giving, Vanderbilt University, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) regional and international conferences and Indiana University School of Philanthropy.