Thomas Cusmano
Regional Director, Strategic Partnerships
Thomas (Tom) Cusmano is Regional Director, Strategic Partnerships at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Prior to joining the Commonwealth Foundation in early 2022, Tom spent twelve years at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) and its student journalism subsidiary, the Collegiate Network (CN). Both ISI and CN educate, train, and mentor America’s most promising principled student leaders, scholars, and future journalists.
Tom has spent three decades facilitating development support for national, regional, and statewide charitable organizations. He says, “The greatest blessing of my professional life has been to assist an inspiring group of dedicated, patriotic, and generous Americans with their philanthropy. I now have the opportunity to return that inspiration for my home state of Pennsylvania through the worthy endeavors of the Commonwealth Foundation.”
Tom has been a Pennsylvania resident since 1994 and proudly proclaims another great blessing, living in Amish Country, where he, his wife, and family “found home.”
Taxes & Economy
Minimum Wage
Summary Findings by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) show that less than one percent of Pennsylvania workers (47,200) earn the minimum wage or…
Fact Sheet
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New Report Finds Pennsylvania Violating Law, Endangering Students in Dangerous Schools
Harrisburg, Pa., August 5, 2025—The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is violating state and federal law around “persistently dangerous schools,” endangering the safety of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable students, and threatening…
Press Release
Read More: New Report Finds Pennsylvania Violating Law, Endangering Students in Dangerous SchoolsEducation
Persistently Dangerous Pennsylvania Public Schools
Calculating danger based only on arrests ignores student safety. Overview New analysis by the Commonwealth Foundation shows that Pennsylvania violates state and federal law by failing to identify persistently dangerous…
Backgrounder
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The One Big Beautiful Bill Should Show Pennsylvania How to Get Stuff Done
Originally published in PennLive. Entering the second months of Pennsylvania’s state budget impasse, Gov. Josh Shapiro and his political machine are desperate to deflect mounting scrutiny. Instead of…
Media Hit
Read More: The One Big Beautiful Bill Should Show Pennsylvania How to Get Stuff DoneEnergy
Pennsylvania Powers the Nation’s Future—No Thanks to Its Governor
Originally published in Townhall. Pittsburgh was recently at the center of the political and business universe, hosting a veritable who’s who of notable political and business leaders. But one…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Powers the Nation’s Future—No Thanks to Its GovernorState Budget
Pennsylvania Enters Second Month of Budget Impasse
Harrisburg, Pa., August 1, 2025 — Pennsylvania is entering the second month operating without a state budget, with no end in sight. Amid the protracted impasse, many have begun to…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Enters Second Month of Budget ImpasseEducation
Diapers, Asbestos, and Antisemitism—Welcome to Philadelphia Public Schools
Originally published in The Washington Times. “I believe every child of God deserves a shot here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Gov. …
Media Hit
Read More: Diapers, Asbestos, and Antisemitism—Welcome to Philadelphia Public SchoolsEnergy
Shapiro Shouldn’t Get In the Way of PA’s Energy Momentum
Originally published in RealClearPennsylvania. All eyes were on Pennsylvania last week for the “Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit”—an event highlighting what…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro Shouldn’t Get In the Way of PA’s Energy MomentumHealth Care
The Myths and Misinformation of Medicaid
Originally published by the Delaware Valley Journal. Gov. Josh Shapiro isn’t pleased with the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). “Pennsylvania got screwed,” he recently told a…
Media Hit
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One Big, Beautiful Bill Benefits for Pennsylvanians
Summary On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed House Resolution 1, better known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB), into law. Within the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: One Big, Beautiful Bill Benefits for PennsylvaniansEnergy
What Pennsylvania Can Learn From Louisiana About Energy Policy
Originally published by RealClearEnergy. Louisiana, the third-largest producer of natural gas nationally, has capitalized on President Donald Trump’s energy policies, which represent an about-face turn…
Media Hit
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Pennsylvania Cyber Students Thrive—No Thanks to Governor Shapiro
Originally published by The Pottstown-Mercury. As an elementary student, Luke Downs struggled to read. “I would cry when I read,” says Luke. “And [my school] didn’t…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Cyber Students Thrive—No Thanks to Governor ShapiroState Budget
PA House Democrats Pass Unbalanced, Reckless Spending Bill
Harrisburg, Pa., July 14, 2025 — Today, Pennsylvania House Democrats passed the General Appropriations Act (HB 1330), their version of a budget bill, which includes a $2.9 billion spending increase.
Press Release
Read More: PA House Democrats Pass Unbalanced, Reckless Spending BillRegulation
Pennsylvania Can Learn from Ohio and West Virginia
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Over the last decade, Pennsylvania has lost population and businesses to more competitive states. But this outmigration offers clues on how Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
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By Opposing Educational Choice, Teachers’ Unions Limit Opportunities for Philly students
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) voted to authorize a strike if the union and…
Media Hit
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Educational Choice for Children Act
U.S. Congress expands educational opportunity for K–12 students nationwide, funding millions in tax credit scholarships for Pennsylvania kids. First-Ever Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program The U.S. Congress passed the Educational…
Fact Sheet
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OBBB Delivers Historic Expansion of Educational Choice, Sweeping Reforms
Harrisburg, Pa., July 3, 2025 — After much anticipation and debate, the One Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is now passed and set to be enacted—delivering policy accomplishments that Pennsylvanians can celebrate:…
Press Release
Read More: OBBB Delivers Historic Expansion of Educational Choice, Sweeping ReformsEducation
Don’t Let Randi Weingarten Fool You: Government Unions Are in lockstep with Democrats
Originally published by Bucks County Independence. Are government union leaders and the Democratic Party about to divorce? Two prominent union leaders — Randi Weingarten of…
Media Hit
Read More: Don’t Let Randi Weingarten Fool You: Government Unions Are in lockstep with DemocratsEducation
No More Blank Checks for Broken Systems
Originally published by PennLive. As the deadline looms, Pennsylvania lawmakers are nowhere near reaching an agreement on the state budget. This uncertainty in Harrisburg revolves around…
Media Hit
Read More: No More Blank Checks for Broken SystemsState Budget
WATCH: Megan Martin on PCN Discussing State Budget, Mass Transit Bail-out, and More
Megan Martin, Commonwealth Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, joins PCN’s Capitol Preview to talk all things state budget. From public transit to Lifeline Scholarships, Martin outlines what good…
Media Hit
Read More: WATCH: Megan Martin on PCN Discussing State Budget, Mass Transit Bail-out, and MoreState Budget
Shapiro, House Democrats Miss the Budget Deadline Again, With No Deal in Sight
Harrisburg, Pa., June 30, 2025 —Today marks the end of Pennsylvania’s fiscal year and the deadline for lawmakers to pass the FY 2025–26 state budget, with no apparent deal in…
Press Release
Read More: Shapiro, House Democrats Miss the Budget Deadline Again, With No Deal in Sight