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
Government Unions ?’All-In’ for Wolf, Give Over $10 Million in Political Support
Pennsylvania’s government unions have crossed the $10 million mark in political support for Gov. Tom Wolf, according to a Commonwealth Foundation analysis of the latest campaign filings. Since 2013, government…
Press Release
Read More: Government Unions ?’All-In’ for Wolf, Give Over $10 Million in Political SupportEducation
Education Funding Principles
With mid-term elections nearing, both candidates for governor are wrestling with how to create a better education system, including a more equitable funding system. Here are five principles any education…
Media
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Pennsylvania’s Tax Climate Remains a Burden
The commonwealth’s business tax climate is chilling. A report from the Tax Foundation ranks Pennsylvania on a variety of key taxes, putting the state at 34th overall. On corporate income taxes,…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Tax Climate Remains a BurdenPublic Union Democracy
Who Benefits from Union Political Spending?
From teachers’ strikes to the significant U.S. Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME, government unions catapulted into the national spotlight this year. Yet union direct political engagement has remained strong for…
Media
Read More: Who Benefits from Union Political Spending?Public Union Democracy
Lawmakers Must Prioritize Pro-Worker Legislation
With a few session days left, lawmakers must prioritize legislation to align state law with federal law and tell workers their rights. HB 2571 enforces the U.S. Supreme Court decision…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Must Prioritize Pro-Worker LegislationPublic Union Democracy
Enforcing Janus
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME is a landmark decision for public sector workers—yet is not self-enforcing. It's time for Pennsylvania lawmakers to defend public sector employees' new-found rights…
Media
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Back-to-School Disappointment for Thousands
Thousands of kids across Pennsylvania are finishing up their first month of school. For many of them, the beginning of the school year is an exciting chance to catch up with…
Media
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Safe and Smart: Tearing Down Obstacles to Work
What does Pennsylvania gain from putting up more barriers to work for people getting out of prison? Making the comeback from a criminal conviction to rejoining the community is hard…
Media
Read More: Safe and Smart: Tearing Down Obstacles to WorkEducation
Opportunity Denied: To Meet Demand, Tax Credit Scholarship Caps Must Expand
The 2018-19 state budget included a $25 million expansion of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. This will allow up to 15,000 additional students to receive scholarships. While helpful, 52,857…
Memo
Read More: Opportunity Denied: To Meet Demand, Tax Credit Scholarship Caps Must ExpandEducation
Opportunity Denied: 50,000+ Tax Credit Scholarship Applications Rejected Annually
Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarship programs are so popular that they could double in size and still not meet demand. That’s a major finding of a new report by the…
Press Release
Read More: Opportunity Denied: 50,000+ Tax Credit Scholarship Applications Rejected AnnuallyPublic Union Democracy
Lawmakers and Union Leaders Attack Election Privacy
Today, Rep. Maureen Madden and Rep. Thomas Mehaffie introduced anti-worker legislation that would strip government workers of privacy rights in workplace elections and give union leaders workers’ personal information. HB…
Press Release
Read More: Lawmakers and Union Leaders Attack Election PrivacyPublic Union Democracy
Legislation Moves to Enforce Workers’ Rights
In the first full session day after the landmark Janus v. AFSCME U.S. Supreme Court decision, the state House Labor Committee passed legislation to protect the rights of public sector…
Media
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Note from the Team
New Hires and Internships at CF this fall.
Commentary
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Note from the Team
New Hires and Internships at CF this fall.
Commentary
Read More: Note from the TeamPublic Union Democracy
House Committee Advances Bills Giving Government Workers a Bigger Voice
Today, the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee passed several crucial bills supporting government workers’ constitutional rights. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that…
Press Release
Read More: House Committee Advances Bills Giving Government Workers a Bigger Voice
Values in Action at ABARTA Coca-Cola Plant
CF picks up some lessons in leadership at Bitzer-owned distribution plant in Lemoyne…
Commentary
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Values in Action at ABARTA Coca-Cola Plant
CF picks up some lessons in leadership at Bitzer-owned distribution plant in Lemoyne…
Commentary
Read More: Values in Action at ABARTA Coca-Cola Plant