Headshot

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.

Health Care

State-Run Health Exchanges: A Terrible Track Record

  • James Paul
  • May 14, 2015

Governor Wolf is taking a big risk. His administration is preparing a Pennsylvania-operated Obamacare exchange if exchange subsidies from the federal exchange, or healthcare.gov, are ruled illegal by the…

Media

Read More: State-Run Health Exchanges: A Terrible Track Record

Taxes & Economy

Reforming the Welfare Benefits Cliff

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • May 14, 2015

Imagine you’re a single mom earning $47,000 a year (or $22.59 an hour) working full-time as an assistant manager at large department store. Your boss pulls you aside with great…

Media

Read More: Reforming the Welfare Benefits Cliff

State Budget

134 Billion Reasons to Embrace Debt Reform

  • May 14, 2015

Every Pennsylvanian’s share of state and local debt increased by 20 percent over the last twelve years. In 2002, per capita debt totaled $8,693. Today, the total is a shade…

Media

Read More: 134 Billion Reasons to Embrace Debt Reform

Regulation

The Monster at the end of this Blog Post

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2015

One of my favorite children’s books is titled “The Monster at the end of this Book.” In it, Grover (of Sesame Street fame) pleads with the reader not…

Media

Read More: The Monster at the end of this Blog Post

Government Accountability

Audio: Bills Shine Light On Union Contract Negotiations

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • May 13, 2015

Public sector union contracts are a huge cost for the state government, and they have also become a conflict of interest for Gov. Wolf. He will be negotiating contract deals with…

Media

Read More: Audio: Bills Shine Light On Union Contract Negotiations

Education

House Expands Indispensable Scholarship Programs

  • James Paul
  • May 12, 2015

In a sweeping, bipartisan vote, members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved a substantial increase to the state’s cherished scholarship programs—the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)…

Media

Read More: House Expands Indispensable Scholarship Programs

Public Union Democracy

Pension Reform Toolkit

  • May 12, 2015

Pension costs are ballooning so quickly, they threaten to consume funds for education, public safety and welfare.  Without reform, Pennsylvanians face cuts to services, teacher layoffs, higher property taxes, and…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pension Reform Toolkit

Regulation

Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension Reform

  • May 11, 2015

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension Reform Bill Stops Sending More Public Employees Into Broken Retirement System May…

Press Release

Read More: Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension Reform

Education

Release Time: Diverting Public Resources to Unions

  • May 11, 2015

Release time allows government employees to take a leave of absence from their jobs to perform union work. Many government employees working for the union are paid by taxpayers while…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Release Time: Diverting Public Resources to Unions

Regulation

It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 11, 2015

“It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” So said Gov. Tom Wolf during his budget address, making clear his administration is…

Media

Read More: It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…

Health Care

State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency Plan

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 8, 2015

A week ago Governor Wolf announced his plan to create a state-based health care exchange if the U.S. Supreme Court nixes taxpayer subsidies to insurance companies through the federal…

Media

Read More: State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency Plan