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.”
Health Care
Painful Year for Pennsylvanians on the Obamacare Exchange
Today marks the fifth open enrollment season for Obamacare's insurance exchange. As predicted, premiums continue to skyrocket. In fact, Pennsylvania's premium increases are among the highest in the…
Media
Read More: Painful Year for Pennsylvanians on the Obamacare ExchangeEducation
Ghosts in the Education Machine
If Pennsylvania students miss three days of school without an excuse, the law says they must be reported. But across the commonwealth, certain teachers have been absent for years—without consequences…
Commentary
Read More: Ghosts in the Education MachinePublic Union Democracy
Unions Profit by Restricting Workers’ Choices
The gold standard for labor reform is right-to-work, according to the conventional wisdom. However, our latest policy report…
Media
Read More: Unions Profit by Restricting Workers’ ChoicesPublic Union Democracy
Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense
Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense Reform Could Have Freed Public Employees from Restrictive, Failing Pension System October 27, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—In a…
Press Release
Read More: Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ ExpenseRegulation
State Pension Reform This Week?
Pension reform talks are in full swing as state lawmakers finish up their fall session. The latest pension proposal offers a side-by-side hybrid system for new employees, including new…
Media
Read More: State Pension Reform This Week?Regulation
Pennsylvanians Want Pension Reform
A majority of Pennsylvanians want pension reform. In a poll conducted from October 4th to 9th, 54 percent of voters supported placing new state employees in a 401(k)-style…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Want Pension ReformEducation
APSCUF Threatens Faculty
This morning, APSCUF, the union representing 5,000 faculty at the State System of Higher Education schools, went on strike. As we pointed out a few weeks ago, one…
Media
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Matt Lewis on the Roots of Conservatism
Political commentator Matt Lewis, author of “Too Dumb to Fail,” argues that to stay relevant, conservatives must overcome the media’s soundbite culture and advocate for long-term policy solutions consistent with the…
Commentary
Read More: Matt Lewis on the Roots of ConservatismGovernment Accountability
Podcast: Matt Lewis on the Roots of Conservatism
What are the roots of conservatism? How has conservatism and its messengers changed over time and what are the consequences for the nation? Political commentator Matt Lewis, author of “…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Matt Lewis on the Roots of ConservatismRegulation
House Votes to Prevent Further Harm to the Vaping Community
Gov. Wolf and the legislature clearly erred in their attempt to raise revenue on the backs of small vape shop business owners like Dori, Chris, Scottie, and…
Media
Read More: House Votes to Prevent Further Harm to the Vaping CommunityHealth Care
Record Premium Hikes Hit Pa. Exchange
Pennsylvanians shopping on the health care exchange are in for a rude awakening. Yesterday the Insurance Department announced premiums for individual plans will increase by an average of 32…
Media
Read More: Record Premium Hikes Hit Pa. ExchangeGovernment Accountability
How Much is Too Much for Pa. School Districts?
Why are taxpayers being charged for money left unspent? This question is posed by NBC 10 reporter Mitch Blacher to public school administrators in southeastern Pennsylvania districts. An NBC investigation…
Media
Read More: How Much is Too Much for Pa. School Districts?Education
House Speaker Seeks Boost for Vital Scholarship Programs
Pennsylvania’s private school scholarship programs account for less than 2 percent of the $11 billion in state funds allocated for public schools. Yet it is impossible to overstate the…
Media
Read More: House Speaker Seeks Boost for Vital Scholarship Programs
CF in the News
Education funding is the job of the legislature, not the courts. Per-student spending is already at an all-time high in Pennsylvania, more than $3,000 above the national average.
Commentary
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CF in the News
Education funding is the job of the legislature, not the courts. Per-student spending is already at an all-time high in Pennsylvania, more than $3,000 above the national average.
Commentary
Read More: CF in the News
Charter Reform: Get it Right
Nearly 20 years after charter schools were introduced in Pennsylvania, 130,000 students benefit from the educational choice offered by these independently managed, publicly funded schools. It’s no secret that charter…
Commentary
Read More: Charter Reform: Get it Right
Charter Reform: Get it Right
Nearly 20 years after charter schools were introduced in Pennsylvania, 130,000 students benefit from the educational choice offered by these independently managed, publicly funded schools. It’s no secret that charter…
Commentary
Read More: Charter Reform: Get it Right
Changing the Conversation
The news and information industry is changing rapidly as mobile technology overtakes traditional media platforms. Podcasts have emerged as a popular medium that offers even more flexibility and opportunity for…
Commentary
Read More: Changing the Conversation
Changing the Conversation
The news and information industry is changing rapidly as mobile technology overtakes traditional media platforms. Podcasts have emerged as a popular medium that offers even more flexibility and opportunity for…
Commentary
Read More: Changing the Conversation
Chart of the Month Oct-Nov
State Support of Public Schools…
Commentary
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Chart of the Month Oct-Nov
State Support of Public Schools…
Commentary
Read More: Chart of the Month Oct-Nov