Putnam Barber earned his BA from Haverford College, followed in 1966 by his MA from the University of Pennsylvania. He worked as the Executive Director of the 1989 Washington Centennial Commission, which worked to organize, fund, and coordinate events, artworks, and publications in honor of the state's centennial, before founding and directing The Evergreen State Society. He has also worked for and been involved with the Executive Alliance, the Institute of Public Service at Seattle University, Washington Nonprofits, Idealist.org, and the Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Evans School at the University of Washington. Barber is the author of "Nonprofits in Washington" and served as the editor of the "Nonprofit FAQ."