The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives is a
think tank
A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmenta ...
based in
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...
.
It develops and advances fiscally conservative and libertarian public policies.
The organization's stated mission is to "transform free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish."
History
The Commonwealth Foundation was founded in 1987 by
Don Eberly
Don E. Eberly (born 1953) is an American author and researcher in the study of civil society. He earned master's degrees from George Washington University and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has also performed doctoral w ...
.
Matthew Brouillette
Matthew J. Brouillette ( ) is an American businessman and entrepreneur who is the founder and president of Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs, a 501(c)(6) membership organization based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is the former pr ...
was hired as the organization's president in February 2002. At the time, the organization had three employees and $350,000 in annual revenue. In April 2016, Brouillette announced he was stepping down from his position. During his tenure, the organization grew to have 18 employees and an annual budget of more than $4 million with offices in
Harrisburg
Harrisburg is the capital city of the Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the List of c ...
and
King of Prussia
The monarchs of Prussia were members of the House of Hohenzollern who were the hereditary rulers of the former German state of Prussia from its founding in 1525 as the Duchy of Prussia. The Duchy had evolved out of the Teutonic Order, a Roman C ...
. Charles Mitchell replaced Brouillette as the organization's president and CEO.
Jane Leader Janeczek, a registered Democrat and the daughter of former Pennsylvania Democratic Governor
George M. Leader
George Michael Leader (January 17, 1918 – May 9, 2013) was an American politician. He served as the 36th governor of Pennsylvania from January 18, 1955, until January 20, 1959. He was a member of the Democratic Party, and a native of York Count ...
, became the Commonwealth Foundation's board chair in 2016. She became involved with the Commonwealth Foundation due to the organization's work on prison reform. In a column announcing her election as the organization's chairwoman, she wrote: "As my father and I — both lifelong Democrats — became more familiar with the work of the Commonwealth Foundation, we found not one policy proposal with which we disagreed. Whether prison reform to fix an ailing system, pension reform to put our state on solid financial footing, or paycheck protection to respect the use of taxpayer dollars, the Commonwealth Foundation's proposals represent common-sense policies."
In 2017, George G. H. Coates Jr. was elected as board chair. Coates is an alcohol industry executive who also serves on the boards of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, Americans for Fair Treatment, and
Donors Trust
Donors Trust is an American nonprofit donor-advised fund. It was founded in 1999 with the goal of "safeguarding the intent of libertarian and conservative donors". As a donor advised fund, Donors Trust is not legally required to disclose the id ...
.
Activities
Commonwealth is active in policy areas such as criminal justice reform, school choice, and the Pennsylvania state budget. Commonwealth supports comprehensive criminal justice reforms focusing state resources on violent offenders and helping non-violent offenders who have served their sentences to reintegrate into society. The Commonwealth Foundation is a frequent commentator on public school reform; advocating for school choice through increased charter schools and tax credits for scholarships.
The group "advocates for small government and market-based solutions" such as supporting the privatization of Pennsylvania's state-run liquor stores. The organization also supported former Democratic Governor
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene Rendell (; born January 5, 1944) is an American lawyer, prosecutor, politician, and author. He served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2011, as chair of the national Democratic Party, and as the 96th Mayor of Philade ...
's proposal to privatize or lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. The group was nominated for the
Atlas Network
Atlas Network, formerly known as the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, is a non-governmental 501(c)(3) organization based in the United States that provides training, networking and grants for libertarian, free-market, and conservative groups ...
's Templeton Freedom Award for its work in support of pension reform in the state. The organization supported two ballot measures to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to limit the governor's emergency powers. A guest commentary in ''The Patriot News'' criticized the group's tactics in supporting the ballot initiatives.
References
External links
*
Organizational Profile–
National Center for Charitable Statistics
The National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) is a clearing house for information about the nonprofit sector of the U.S. economy. The National Center for Charitable Statistics builds national, state, and regional databases and develops st ...
(
Urban Institute
The Urban Institute is a Washington, D.C.–based think tank that carries out economic and social policy research to "open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions". The institute receives funding from government contracts, foundations and pr ...
)
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Political and economic think tanks in the United States
Non-profit organizations based in Pennsylvania
Organizations established in 1987
1987 establishments in Pennsylvania
Government of Pennsylvania
Libertarian think tanks
Libertarian organizations based in the United States
Conservative organizations in the United States
Organizations based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania