Pennsylvania is writing a new chapter in America’s story.
The Commonwealth Foundation's vision is that Pennsylvania once again writes a new chapter in America's story by ensuring all people have equal opportunity to pursue their dreams and earn success.
Our mission: The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish.
America’s story began in Pennsylvania—but our state has fallen behind. People are leaving for better schools, jobs, and overall quality of life.
What went wrong? For decades, politicians in both parties forgot that the greatest antidote to poverty and injustice is economic freedom and enacted policies that kept Pennsylvanians from flourishing.
Thankfully, change has begun! Over the last few years, policymakers have passed major reforms that embrace personal responsibility, fairness, and free enterprise. Once again, Pennsylvania is writing a new chapter in America’s story.
Change like this does not happen on its own. The Commonwealth Foundation is the catalyst turning Pennsylvania into a state of opportunity. We transform the ideas of economic freedom into policy solutions that become law, empowering all Pennsylvanians to pursue their dreams and earn success.
We engage and educate job creators, entrepreneurs, influencers, and lawmakers about practical solutions that will allow all Pennsylvanians to flourish. And our world-class, state-focused policy analysis and communication shape the debate and change minds.
Specifically, we are igniting cultural change by focusing on four policy pillars:
- Opportunity: Children thrive in learning environments suited to their needs, not dictated by their ZIP codes. We have expanded education options for hundreds of thousands of children and are spearheading the movement to allow parents to fully customize their child’s education.
- Independence: People enjoy the highest quality of life when they can earn their own success and provide for their families. We have crafted policies that are now law, empowering vulnerable Pennsylvanians to move from dependency to self-sufficiency. Now, we are fighting to ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve independence.
- Prosperity: Families, business owners, and job-seekers plant roots in states that foster economic growth. We have defeated billions of dollars in tax hikes and pushed public pension reform across the goal line. Because of our work, Pennsylvania is primed to unleash prosperity for all.
- Fairness: Pennsylvanians deserve a fair political and economic playing field. We have exposed and weakened special interests’ unfair privileges and are leading the charge to eliminate favoritism for government union leaders and end corporate welfare.
Pennsylvania is the biggest, most culturally influential, and most historically significant state on the cusp of such a transformation. When it turns the corner from decades of decline, the Keystone State will revitalize the Northeast and inspire the nation.
Opportunity and progress will define the next chapter of America’s story. We know, because once again, Pennsylvania is writing it.