Our Team

Lisa Tarshis
Head of the Primer Foundation
"It is through philanthropy that people live out their values and create the change they want to see in the world. There’s nothing more humbling than playing a small role in the tremendous societal change that comes from connecting passionate individuals with worthwhile causes."

‍

Hi, I’m Lisa Tarshis and I’m the head of the Primer Foundation. Education and philanthropy were two values instilled in me as a young child and I feel fortunate to live out those values by making a Primer education accessible to all who seek it. 

‍

Prior to joining the Primer team, I partnered with nonprofit organizations across the country and in Canada to develop effective fundraising campaigns and build successful teams. I worked with roughly 50 clients to raise more than $48M with about half of this work falling in the education space. I frequently traveled the country speaking and training. In addition to my client work, I oversaw the firm’s growth and innovation verticals including internal operations and external partnerships. 

‍

An alum of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I live in the Chicagoland area with my husband and two kids and am an active community volunteer.