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.
State Budget
Gov. Josh Shapiro Isn’t a “Different Democrat”
Originally published by Pottstown-Mercury. Gov. Josh Shapiro is a “different Democrat,” or so claim national pundits. The governor has made unorthodox yet inconsequential statements condemning terrorism, rebuking antisemitism on…
Media Hit
Read More: Gov. Josh Shapiro Isn’t a “Different Democrat”State Budget
Governor Shapiro’s Budget is Nothing New
Originally published by the York Dispatch. “I love Groundhog Day,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro during the budget address. Of course, the governor meant the Pennsylvania tradition of Punxsutawney…
Media Hit
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Budget is Nothing NewEnergy
Pennsylvania’s Governor Puts ‘Green’ Messaging Ahead of Realistic Solutions
Originally published in National Review. Leading Democrats still haven’t learned the lesson of their defeat to Donald Trump. Their party is stuck in the political wilderness because they spent four…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Governor Puts ‘Green’ Messaging Ahead of Realistic SolutionsState Budget
Governor Shapiro’s Broken Promises are Breaking Pennsylvania
Originally published by Penn Live/Patriot-News. Everyone knows that politicians break promises. But Gov. Josh Shapiro’s promise-breaking is so sweeping it’s breathtaking. That’s all I could think after…
Media Hit
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Broken Promises are Breaking PennsylvaniaEnergy
Democrat Governors’ Energy Policies Bend Economics—and Reality
Originally published by Daily Signal. It’s no secret that energy prices are on the rise. High demand for electricity and tight supplies—exacerbated by early retirements of coal-fired power plants—strain grid…
Media Hit
Read More: Democrat Governors’ Energy Policies Bend Economics—and RealityGovernment Accountability
Independent Fiscal Office Shows Shapiro’s Budget Will Deepen the Deficit
IFO’s new Long-Term Budget Outlook Update illustrates Pennsylvania’s economic peril in light of Governor Shapiro’s 2025 budget proposal. Harrisburg, Pa., February 11, 2025 — Today, Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office…
Press Release
Read More: Independent Fiscal Office Shows Shapiro’s Budget Will Deepen the DeficitPublic Union Democracy
Shapiro’s Silent Partners
Originally published in the Delaware Valley Journal. There’s plenty to criticize about Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address, as many have done. Yet, one of the strangest aspects of the…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s Silent PartnersPublic Union Democracy
Trump’s Labor Secretary Pick Is a Union Favorite—and a Threat to Right-to-Work Laws
Originally published in Reason. Given the salacious allegations against some of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations, it is understandable how secretary of labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer has mostly flown…
Media Hit
Read More: Trump’s Labor Secretary Pick Is a Union Favorite—and a Threat to Right-to-Work LawsEducation
No Choice
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer. In a recent Inquirer article, Donna Cooper, executive director of Children First, stated that “the overwhelming majority of parents choose public schools.”…
Media Hit
Read More: No ChoiceEnergy
Pennsylvania Democrats must stop playing politics and unleash American energy
Originally published in Broad + Liberty: Democrats have a demographics problem. In November, voters, even those who historically back Democrats, shifted support to President Donald Trump, Sen. Dave McCormick,…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Democrats must stop playing politics and unleash American energyState Budget
Deficit Watch: February 2025
Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit, with $47.6 billion in spending and only $43.9 billion in net…
Deficit Watch
Read More: Deficit Watch: February 2025Education
Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Releases Analysis of the Governor’s 2025 Budget Proposal
Harrisburg, PA, February 4, 2025 – Massive spending increases proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in his recently released 2025 budget proposal “will force extreme tax hikes on working families in the coming…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Releases Analysis of the Governor’s 2025 Budget ProposalEducation
Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Proposal: An Extreme Spending Binge
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s radical overspending exacerbates what is already a massive budget deficit. His plan imposes new taxes this year and will force extreme tax hikes on working families…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Proposal: An Extreme Spending BingeEnergy
Lawmakers Move to Repeal Shapiro’s Harmful Energy Tax
Harrisburg, Pa., February 4, 2025 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed, with a bipartisan 31-18 vote, legislation to leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Gov. Shapiro is currently appealing a Commonwealth…
Press Release
Read More: Lawmakers Move to Repeal Shapiro’s Harmful Energy TaxEducation
Governor Shapiro’s Massive Budget Brings Excessive Spending, New Taxes, and Future Tax Hikes
Video statements for broadcast media are available here. Harrisburg, Pa., February 4, 2025 — Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his 2025 Pennsylvania budget address, proposing a $3.9 billion spending increase.
Press Release
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Massive Budget Brings Excessive Spending, New Taxes, and Future Tax HikesEnergy
Work with the president on energy, governor
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Is Pennsylvania on the brink of a new era of bipartisanship? There are hopeful signs. On January 20th, Gov. Josh Shapiro congratulated President…
Media Hit
Read More: Work with the president on energy, governorState Budget
Will Shapiro Address the $3.6 Billion Elephant in the Room?
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Watch Gov. Josh Shapiro closely during his annual budget address on Tuesday. The governor will lay out his vision for the upcoming year – undoubtedly…
Media Hit
Read More: Will Shapiro Address the $3.6 Billion Elephant in the Room?Education
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds President Trump’s Executive Order to Expand Educational Opportunity
Harrisburg, Pa., January 30, 2025 — President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, issued an executive order to expand educational opportunity for families. While the details of this order remain in…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds President Trump’s Executive Order to Expand Educational OpportunityEnergy
Shapiro’s Role in Rising Energy Prices
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro seems concerned about Pennsylvanians’ energy bills – and rightfully so. The average Pennsylvania electricity bill has increased by more than …
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s Role in Rising Energy PricesEducation
Pennsylvania’s Students Fall Behind in Math and Reading, Despite $4.1 Billion School Funding Boost
Harrisburg, Pa., January 29, 2025 – The Nation’s Report Card, released this morning by the U.S. Department of Education, showed that 69% of Pennsylvania 8th grade students aren’t…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Students Fall Behind in Math and Reading, Despite $4.1 Billion School Funding BoostEnergy
Governor Shapiro’s PJM Announcement is a Distraction from His Own Costly Energy Policies
Harrisburg, Pa., January 28, 2025 – Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced his administration resolved its recent complaint against PJM Interconnection. Rather than pursue PR stunts like this, the Commonwealth Foundation…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s PJM Announcement is a Distraction from His Own Costly Energy Policies