thomas cusmano
Headshot

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.”

Public Union Democracy

PLCB Keeps Employees in the Dark

  • February 1, 2019

Less than one year ago, the Supreme Court declared that public sector workers’ constitutional rights to free speech and association came before government unions’ desire to collect fees from those…

Media

Read More: PLCB Keeps Employees in the Dark

Opportunity Denied

  • January 31, 2019

Over 50,000 families are turned away from Pennsylvania's vital EITC program each year. Lawmakers should raise the caps on business donations to meet student demand.

Commentary

Read More: Opportunity Denied

Opportunity Denied

  • Marc LeBlond
  • January 31, 2019

Over 50,000 families are turned away from Pennsylvania's vital EITC program each year. Lawmakers should raise the caps on business donations to meet student demand.

Commentary

Read More: Opportunity Denied

Education

Kids Deserve Fair Funding and Choice

  • Marc LeBlond
  • January 30, 2019

On Jan 23, 2019, Rep. Chris Rabb hosted a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on 100 percent Fair School Funding. Rep. Rabb graciously invited CF to participate. Below are Marc…

Media

Read More: Kids Deserve Fair Funding and Choice

State Budget

Five Ways to Promote Prosperity & Grow the Economy

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 30, 2019

Revenue collections are $400 million above projections. Next year’s budget should be easy to balance. Instead, lawmakers are looking at a projected $1.7 billion deficit. Why? Pennsylvania continues…

Memo

Read More: Five Ways to Promote Prosperity & Grow the Economy

Remembering Yvonne Morgan

  • Charles Mitchell
  • January 28, 2019

I have been blessed with some amazing moms in my life, and Yvonne Morgan—my “BUCC Mom”—was one of them. …

Commentary

Read More: Remembering Yvonne Morgan

Public Union Democracy

Pa. Union Members Sue for the Right to Resign

  • Jessica Barnett
  • January 25, 2019

No organization should be able to force workers to remain members. Sadly, that’s the reality for thousands of Pennsylvania public sector workers. While the Supreme Court decision in Janus v.

Media

Read More: Pa. Union Members Sue for the Right to Resign

Education

School Choice: Stuck in the Middle (Class)

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • January 24, 2019

“I fear we’ve become a school for the haves and the have-nots,” one private school leader in Florida worried. What’s happened to those in between? The wealthy can afford to…

Media

Read More: School Choice: Stuck in the Middle (Class)

Education

Michael Scott Wasn’t the Only Bad Manager in Scranton

  • January 23, 2019

It’s been five years since the television show The Office ended, and Scranton is making headlines again. No, not because Michael Scott had an insensitive diversity training, nor because Ryan…

Media

Read More: Michael Scott Wasn’t the Only Bad Manager in Scranton

Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania State Budget Trends

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 22, 2019

On February 5, Governor Wolf will lay out his proposal for the 2019-20 state budget. Here are some key facts on spending trends, last year’s enacted budget, and challenges going…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget Trends

Regulation

How Big is the Pa. State Budget? 17 Million Yoga Rooms

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 22, 2019

Much has been made about a yoga and meditation room in the state Capitol—costing taxpayers about $5,000 to furnish. With an annual state budget that could pay for…

Media

Read More: How Big is the Pa. State Budget? 17 Million Yoga Rooms