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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.

Criminal Justice Reform

Safe and Smart: Fixing Harsh Life Sentences

  • September 21, 2018

In this second blog in our Safe and Smart series, we tackle Pennsylvania’s practice of sentencing offenders to life without parole (LWOP). LWOP is coming under greater scrutiny from people across the…

Media

Read More: Safe and Smart: Fixing Harsh Life Sentences

Criminal Justice Reform

Philadelphia Forced to Reform Unjust Confiscation

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 21, 2018

Four years ago we told you the story of Markela and Chris Sourovelis, Philadelphians who lost their home when their son committed a minor drug crime thanks to an…

Media

Read More: Philadelphia Forced to Reform Unjust Confiscation

Education

Young Entrepreneurs in Action

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • September 18, 2018

It’s rare to see kids voluntarily give up their Saturday to work. But that’s exactly what my 12- and 14-year old daughters—along with a dozen other kids—did at the recent…

Media

Read More: Young Entrepreneurs in Action

Public Union Democracy

Lawmakers Can Stand Up for Home Care Workers

  • September 18, 2018

In early 2015 Governor Wolf issued an executive order unionizing home care workers throughout Pennsylvania, many of whom care for their own relatives. The state Supreme Court recently upheld the order. By…

Media

Read More: Lawmakers Can Stand Up for Home Care Workers

Criminal Justice Reform

Safe and Smart: Restructuring Pa.’s Probation System

  • September 13, 2018

CF’s newest policy brief, Safer Communities, Smarter Spending, provides a unique look at the problems in Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system. The commonwealth’s incarceration rate is too high. Its supervision…

Media

Read More: Safe and Smart: Restructuring Pa.’s Probation System

Taxes & Economy

Where Are Americans Moving?

  • September 12, 2018

Millions of people move throughout the United States each year. Some make a home on the next street over. Others move across the country. This is a normal and healthy…

Media

Read More: Where Are Americans Moving?

Public Union Democracy

Time to Shed Light on New Workers’ Rights

  • Charles Mitchell
  • September 11, 2018

This Labor Day marks ten weeks since the Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that government employees should not be forced to pay a union or risk losing their…

Media

Read More: Time to Shed Light on New Workers’ Rights

Criminal Justice Reform

Safer Communities, Smarter Spending

  • September 11, 2018

About 95 percent of those confined to state prison will eventually re-enter society. This is why reformers must focus attention on reducing recidivism and balance "tough on crime" practices of the past…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Safer Communities, Smarter Spending

Education

More is Not Always Better

  • Marc LeBlond
  • September 10, 2018

In the ongoing school funding case, William Penn School District v. Pennsylvania Department of Education, several school districts are suing the state on the grounds that Pennsylvania has…

Media

Read More: More is Not Always Better

Work Requirements on Tap in Washington and Harrisburg

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 7, 2018

At the end of this month, the federal farm bill expires. Its replacement—a monolithic piece of legislation—is the subject of significant controversy over strengthening food stamp work requirements for healthy…

Media

Read More: Work Requirements on Tap in Washington and Harrisburg

Taxes & Economy

How Pennsylvania Can Transform Its Tax Code

  • September 6, 2018

Pennsylvania’s state and local tax structure is an illogical patchwork of punitive and nuisance taxes, administrative inefficiencies, and special interest carveouts. A new report from the Tax Foundation highlights…

Media

Read More: How Pennsylvania Can Transform Its Tax Code