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.

Regulation

Crisis Management: PA’s Public Pension Problem

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • February 5, 2015

Crisis management can be broken down into three general phases: identifying the problem, developing the best plan to fix it, and executing that plan while adjusting as needed. It’s a…

Commentary

Read More: Crisis Management: PA’s Public Pension Problem

Education

Teachers Denied the Right to Represent Themselves

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 5, 2015

Last week the Bethlehem Area School District approved a new labor contract that will force all teachers—even those who do not want the union’s services—to pay the organization hundreds of…

Media

Read More: Teachers Denied the Right to Represent Themselves

Taxes & Economy

Audio: Wolf’s Campaign Rhetoric Meets Governing Reality

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • January 30, 2015

Governor Wolf has made some bold promises on his campaign trail, but very soon the campaign rhetoric will meet governing reality. CF’s President and CEO Matt Brouillette recently discussed…

Media

Read More: Audio: Wolf’s Campaign Rhetoric Meets Governing Reality

Health Care

Breaking Out of the Fortress & Into the Frontier

  • James Paul
  • January 30, 2015

What is the ultimate goal of health care reform? Is it to provide all Americans with insurance cards? Or is it to enhance access to quality care at more affordable…

Media

Read More: Breaking Out of the Fortress & Into the Frontier

Education

After 50 years of Union Control, Philly Schools Still Failing

  • James Paul
  • January 29, 2015

Academic failure, school violence, and financial mismanagement have been the dubious hallmarks of the School District of Philadelphia for decades. In that time, there has been one constant actor fighting…

Commentary

Read More: After 50 years of Union Control, Philly Schools Still Failing

Public Union Democracy

Mary’s Law is Introduced

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 28, 2015

Paycheck protection legislation, known as “Mary’s Law,” was officially introduced in the state House of Representatives as HB 238. With the backing of 39 co-sponsors, Mary’s Law seeks to…

Media

Read More: Mary’s Law is Introduced

Education

The State of School Choice in Pennsylvania

  • James Paul
  • January 27, 2015

In many respects, Pennsylvania is a pioneer of school choice. With 173 charter schools—14 of which are cyber charters—and two scholarship tax credit programs, the commonwealth is the envy of…

Media

Read More: The State of School Choice in Pennsylvania

Education

Podcast: A Local-Only Teachers Union?

  • January 27, 2015

Michigan teacher Jim Perialas has an unusual story. In 2012 his school, Roscommon Area School District, became the first in decades to decertify (or leave) the state-wide Michigan Education Association…

Media

Read More: Podcast: A Local-Only Teachers Union?

A Local-Only Union: A Teacher Tells How to Leave the NEA

  • January 27, 2015

This post first appeared on the Commonwealth Foundation’s PolicyBlog. Michigan teacher Jim Perialas has an unusual story. In 2012 his school, Roscommon Area School District, became the first in…

Media

Read More: A Local-Only Union: A Teacher Tells How to Leave the NEA