Elizabeth P. Maiden

Beth Pongracz Maiden has led the Erie County Community Foundation as its Executive Director since 2016. During her tenure, she has been responsible for increasing the Foundation’s assets from $22M to over $36M. In 2018 she completed a $900K renovation project for new offices for the Foundation and three nonprofit tenants, as well as a high-tech community meeting space.

Maiden and her staff have also taken on the task of developing the Huron County Community Foundation into an independent nonprofit organization.

Prior to arriving in Erie County, Maiden was President/CEO of Leadership Lorain County and also served as Communications Officer for the Community Foundation of Lorain County in Elyria, OH.

Maiden earned her BA in English from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, OH, and her Master’s in Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. Maiden was recently named a 2023 Fellow in Leadership Ohio, the state's premier leadership development program that connects diverse leaders from across Ohio to promote positive change. Beth also serves on the Board of Directors of the Sandusky State Theatre, on the Advisory Committee for the Erie County Business Advisory Council, and is also a member of the Sandusky Rotary Club. In 2021, Beth won the Visionary Leadership Award presented by the Erie County Economic Development Corporation.

She and her husband Warren reside in Amherst with their very spoiled and photogenic cat, Savannah.