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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.

Health Care

Five Years After Obamacare Charity Care Demand Soars

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 23, 2015

Five years later, the promises of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ring hollow for too many Pennsylvanians. The law’s numerous mandates and regulations continue to drive up the cost of…

Media

Read More: Five Years After Obamacare Charity Care Demand Soars

Taxes & Economy

Natural Gas Severance Tax

  • March 20, 2015

A severance tax must be considered in light of the state’s total tax structure. Pennsylvania taxes the natural gas industry in many ways that don’t exist in other drilling states.

Fact Sheet

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State Budget

A Broken Promise Could Break the Bank

  • March 20, 2015

During the gubernatorial campaign, Tom Wolf promised not to raise taxes on middle class Pennsylvanians. Despite this promise, the governor proposed a budget including the largest tax increase in…

Media

Read More: A Broken Promise Could Break the Bank

Education

Pennsylvania’s Charter Law: Room to Improve

  • James Paul
  • March 18, 2015

Pennsylvania’s charter school law received its 2015 report card, and unfortunately it will not earn a place on the refrigerator. The commonwealth earned a “C” grade from the…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Charter Law: Room to Improve

Education

Protecting Pennsylvania’s Excellent Teachers

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 18, 2015

Shortly after graduation, Dominique took a job at one of Philadelphia’s most challenging turnaround high schools, University City. After one very successful year the district experienced significant layoffs…

Media

Read More: Protecting Pennsylvania’s Excellent Teachers

Government Accountability

Collective Bargaining Transparency

  • March 17, 2015

Government union contract negotiations can have far reaching implications because they set compensation for tens of thousands of public employees, costing taxpayers billions each year. Despite the enormous impact, the…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Collective Bargaining Transparency

Education

Education-Industrial Complex Strikes Again

  • James Paul
  • March 16, 2015

Much has been made of recent comments from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan regarding school funding in Pennsylvania. According to Duncan, Pennsylvania's families are “being shortchanged when…

Media

Read More: Education-Industrial Complex Strikes Again