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Pamela Armstrong-Pautz

Vice President of Development

Pamela Armstrong-Pautz is the Vice President of Development at the Commonwealth Foundation.

Pam leads the fundraising strategy that fuels the organization’s mission to advance policy change, expand opportunities, and protect freedom for all Pennsylvanians.

Pam brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, with a record of building high-performing teams, expanding major gift and foundation support, and designing strategies that drive sustained growth.

Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, she served as Vice President of Development at Hope Rises International, formerly American Leprosy Missions, where she guided a global team through a brand transformation, launched a five-year digital fundraising strategy, and expanded donor engagement worldwide.

Previously, she served as Executive Director of the North Star Initiative, where she increased revenue sevenfold and spearheaded Central Pennsylvania’s first human-trafficking task force. She also served as CEO of the Integrity for Life Foundation, where she pioneered innovative social enterprises, including Pennsylvania’s first nonprofit grocery store.

Pam holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and also serves as a Senior Fellow with the Social Enterprise Group.

Soundbites

  • May 10, 2017

Charter schools, “are public schools that are operate outside of the school district infrastructure…They’re given a degree of autonomy and freedom in exchange for accountability."…

Commentary

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Health Care

Five Pre-Existing Condition Myths Debunked

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 9, 2017

What happens when Obamacare mandates drive insurance companies out of the marketplace? One breast cancer survivor in Maricopa County, Arizona—which lost all but one Obamacare…

Media

Read More: Five Pre-Existing Condition Myths Debunked

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania Government Union Dues Used for Politics

  • May 8, 2017

Since 2007, Pennsylvania government unions spent $62.7 million from membership dues on “Political Activities & Lobbying.” Including national affiliates the total reaches $342 million during the 2016 election cycle alone. Here…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

Paycheck Protection Closes Corruption Loophole

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 8, 2017

Philly Corruption All-Stars, that's the title of the recent Philadelphia Citizen series featuring a decade-by-decade rundown of the most corrupt city politicians. Philadelphia and Pennsylvania's reputation for political corruption…

Media

Read More: Paycheck Protection Closes Corruption Loophole

Health Care

Latest Obamacare Repeal Effort Full of Opportunity

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 5, 2017

As the past seven years have shown, no one in Congress is qualified to make healthcare decisions for Pennsylvanians. The latest version of the American Health Care Act will give…

Media

Read More: Latest Obamacare Repeal Effort Full of Opportunity

Public Union Democracy

How Government Union Dues Subsidize Partisan Politics

  • Jessica Barnett
  • May 5, 2017

The 2016 election cycle reveals big spending from big labor, according to a report released by the National Institute for Labor Relations Research (NILRR). NILRR discovered $1.7 billion in…

Media

Read More: How Government Union Dues Subsidize Partisan Politics

Taxes & Economy

Perception v. Reality Check on Pennsylvania’s Economy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 4, 2017

Yesterday, Elizabeth noted how Pennsylvania lost 13,000 college-educated millennials to other states in 2015. Overall, Pennsylvania lost 45,000 residents in interstate migration last year. Why are millennials and…

Media

Read More: Perception v. Reality Check on Pennsylvania’s Economy

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Self-Inflicted Lobotomy

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 3, 2017

Every day, 36 college graduates flee Pennsylvania for better opportunities in other states, according to a new Independent Fiscal Office trends report. Overall, there was a net outflow of…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Self-Inflicted Lobotomy

State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2017

  • May 3, 2017

Pennsylvania’s financial problems continue to mount. April’s revenue collections were well below the Department of Revenue’s official estimate, which means the state’s deficit will likely be larger than expected.

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2017

Regulation

Should Pennsylvania Subsidize Horse Racing?

  • May 2, 2017

Last month the House passed a General Fund budget that included more than $56 million in corporate welfare reductions. At the time, we indicated even more reductions were possible given…

Media

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Education

Ten Reasons for Optimism

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 28, 2017

This week state lawmakers advanced a plethora of good policy, from legislation to finally end the government liquor monopoly to a bill that would improve health care in rural areas.

Media

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Ghost Teacher Ban Passes Senate Committee

  • April 27, 2017

These ghost teachers are teachers in name only; many haven’t taught in decades and will never return to the classroom. In some cases, ghost teachers receive taxpayer-funded salaries, gain seniority,…

Commentary

Read More: Ghost Teacher Ban Passes Senate Committee

Ghost Teacher Ban Passes Senate Committee

  • April 27, 2017

These ghost teachers are teachers in name only; many haven’t taught in decades and will never return to the classroom. In some cases, ghost teachers receive taxpayer-funded salaries, gain seniority,…

Commentary

Read More: Ghost Teacher Ban Passes Senate Committee