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.
U.S. House votes against tolls on I-80
The US House approved an amendment to the transportation appropriation bill that would block tolling of I-80. The House has since passed the bill since Brett Lieberman broke the…
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School Choice and Racial Balance
Paul Peterson in today’s Wall Street Journal on how school choice can reduce racial segregation in schools. Topics on this page Paul PetersenThe Wall…
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Reform coalition proposing budget timeline for lawmakers
Coverage of yesterday’s reform coalition press conference on reforming the budget process: Post Gazette Tribune Review WGAL TV (complete with poll asking, “Would you support a plan…
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Affordable Health Care Agenda
As the lead article on our website indicates, the Commonwealth Foundation has joined with over two dozen organizations to form the Health Care Freedom Coalition. Most…
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11th Most Influential Blog
PolicyBlog debuts as the Pennsylvania’s 11th most influential political blog on the Blognetnews.com rankings. Tony Phyrillas (#5) comments that we are moving up fast (though technically we are…
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Financial Impact of Public Charter Schools
Report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools looks at the fiscal impact of charter schools and the myths propogated by school districts. Among their conclusions: Districts get…
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Reforming the Budget Process
The Commonwealth Foundation will be joining with other members of the reform coalition (today at 11 am) to discuss the budget process in the “era of reform,” and an alternative…
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Uninsured in America
Great video titled “Uninsured in America”, produced by Free Market Cure.
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‘Pre-K Counts’ Does Not Apply To Religious Schools
The Evening Bulletin on the effect of “Pre-K Counts” on private, religious preschools. Topics on this page Pre K Counts…
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Vouchers could desegregate schools better than buses
Some new data on yet another benefit of school choice – desegregation. Summary from NCPA…
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Pretend funding plan
Two days late and a dollar short, the Patriot News declares that “Turnpike borrowing and tolls for Interstate 80 come up short to finance statewide road needs.” Topics…
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Two against 48
Dimitri Vassilaros column in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Senators Eichelberger and Folmer (the two in the 2 vs. 48) who voted against the budget. Vassilaros also discussesthe intricacies of state…
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Another Anti-Cyber Assault by School Boards
School boards continue to attack public cyber schools and call for limiting their spending (you never hear anyone calling for school districts to limit their spending) in the Pittsburgh…
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State flunks in financial disclosure
Brett Lieberman in the Patriot News on Pennsylvania’s failing grade for disclosure of public official’s financial interests The full report is here. The disclosure documents for the…
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Toll Roads News on the Transportation Deal
Penn Pike’s Joe Brimmeier trumps state Governor – comes out of fight with growing road portfolio, from Toll Roads News.
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The Best States For Business
This is about a week old, but Forbes’ lastest Best States For Business ranks PA near the bottom, coming in at 39 this year. I’m sure with the Film…
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Edifice Complex Charts and Resources
Below are charts, source data, and statistical results results (as promised) from our report Edifice Complex: Where Has All the Money Gone Charts used at News Conference (PDF)…
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Turnpike Wheeling and Dealing
Brad Bumsted’s assessment of the Turnpike Commission’s deal to expand their power and protect their fiefdom. The Turnpike Commission may have gotten enough House votes for their borrowing and…
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Milton Friedman Resolution Passes!
Without drawing much attention, given all the attention going to the state budget and the transportation funding plan, we scored a legislative victory of sorts. Late last night…
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Pittsburgh schools drop ‘public’ from name to boost image
Oddity on the education front – since “public” schools carry a negative connotation the Pittsburgh Public Schools will now be known simply as the Pittsburgh Schools. We think…
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Edifice Complex at Central Dauphin?
Yesterday we released a report titled The Edifice Complex, which looks at school district spending (as well as contrasting that with cyber schools), finding that school districts suffer from…
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