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

2024–25 State Budget Analysis

  • July 12, 2024

Key Points Pennsylvania’s $47.6 billion 2024–25 budget creates a $3.6 billion structural deficit. This will exhaust General Fund reserves, which will require draining from the Rainy Day fund—illegally—or raising taxes…

Fact Sheet

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Education

Education Needs More Choices—Not More Money

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 11, 2024

Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Gov. Josh Shapiro and his administration chide the Pennsylvania legislature for hoarding cash with spending sights aimed at draining the commonwealth’s $7 billion Rainy…

Media Hit

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Energy

Pa. Travelers’ Guide: Summer Gasoline Prices

  • Hanna Bechtel
  • July 5, 2024

Pennsylvania’s June average gasoline price was higher than all its neighbor states except New York. While Pennsylvania’s gasoline price has decreased from its 2022 record high, the long-term picture shows…

Backgrounder

Read More: Pa. Travelers’ Guide: Summer Gasoline Prices

Education

Child Learning Investment Tax Credit

  • July 3, 2024

Summary Last year, lawmakers approved the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit and a $66.7 million increase for child-care subsidies. Pennsylvania lawmakers are looking for ways to lower…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Child Learning Investment Tax Credit

Energy

Commonwealth Foundation’s André Béliveau on the Chris Stigall Show

  • André Béliveau
  • July 3, 2024

Commonwealth Foundation’s Senior Manager of Energy Policy André Béliveau discusses Governor Shapiro’s energy tax proposal on the Chris Stigall Show. https://commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/7-1-24-Commonwealth.mp3 Topics on this pageAndre Beliveau…

Media Hit

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s André Béliveau on the Chris Stigall Show

Public Union Democracy

Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of Education

  • David Osborne
  • July 2, 2024

Get ready for a riveting episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report! Host David Osborne is joined by The Daily Signal Investigative Columnist and WIBC radio host Tony Kennett for…

Podcast

Read More: Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of Education

State Budget

Is Josh Shapiro Capable of Leadership?

  • July 2, 2024

Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — In The Wall Street Journal, columnist William McGurn explores claims that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, currently floated by some pundits as a possible replacement for President Joe Biden…

Press Release

Read More: Is Josh Shapiro Capable of Leadership?

State Budget

Analysis: Shapiro’s Record Least Productive in 50 Years

  • July 1, 2024

Harrisburg, Pa., July 1, 2024 — Despite speculation of replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, Gov. Josh Shapiro has been an ineffective leader with few legislative…

Press Release

Read More: Analysis: Shapiro’s Record Least Productive in 50 Years

Education

Jay-Z, MLK, and the progressive opposition to genuine reform

  • Lenny McAllister
  • July 1, 2024

Originally published at Broad + Liberty It’s not often you can mention Jay-Z and Martin Luther King, Jr. in the same breath. Yet, the Brooklyn-born hip-hop mogul and the…

Media Hit

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State Budget

Governor Josh Shapiro “Ain’t Got Sh*t Done”

  • July 1, 2024

Overview Governor Josh Shapiro has made “Get Sh*t Done,” profanity and all, the official slogan of his administration, but when it comes to legislative accomplishments, his governing abilities have…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Governor Josh Shapiro “Ain’t Got Sh*t Done”

Education

Pennsylvania’s Education Failures Could Cost Taxpayers Billions

  • June 28, 2024

Harrisburg, Pa., June 28, 2024 — Pennsylvania’s K–12 educational shortcomings could burden taxpayers with nearly $8.8 billion in added costs, according to the Commonwealth Foundation’s latest analysis. The report reveals the…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Education Failures Could Cost Taxpayers Billions

Education

The High Cost of Pa. K–12 Education Failures

  • June 28, 2024

Key Points The cost and risk of failure in our K–12 system is high. Low academic achievement is a predictor of lower lifetime incomes and higher costs for taxpayers. On…

Backgrounder

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State Budget

Pennsylvania’s Budgetary Déjà Vu

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 24, 2024

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania’s budget battle feels oddly familiar – like we’ve been here before. Our sense of déjà vu is valid: The 2024–25 fiscal battle looks strikingly…

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Budgetary Déjà Vu