CANOPY BLOG

Meet Beth May, Canopy’s Director of Philanthropy

By Canopy Team on October 17, 2022

Beth May (she/her) joined Canopy in October 2022 as Senior Director of Philanthropy.

As an active Palo Alto community member deeply engaged with local organizations, fundraising, and education, Beth was attracted to Canopy’s mission to grow urban tree canopy in Midpeninsula communities for the benefit of all. “Canopy is a distinctive combination of education, environment, and equity. Few organizations can say the same.” She is delighted to promote Canopy and grow its base of supporters and advocates.

Beth is a Bay Area Native who grew up in Palo Alto. After graduating from Princeton University, Beth began her career in affordable housing advocacy in Chicago as Princeton Public Interest Program fellow and later transitioned to relationship management at Northern Trust in Chicago and San Francisco. After moving down the peninsula to her hometown of Palo Alto 12 years ago, Beth turned her focus to community fundraising and education advocacy.

Beth believes the old adage “water the grass where you are” (or trees!), investing her free time volunteering with nonprofit organizations in the local community. She often works with the National Charity League alongside her two teenage daughters, guiding them out of their comfort zones to explore and find their own inspiration for lifelong engagement with their community.

a row of trees against a blue sky backdrop
A coast redwood grove in Sylvan Park, Mountain View

Beth cares deeply about connecting with people and understanding what is most important to them, and looks forward to using this skill on behalf of the urban forest and Canopy’s programs to responsibly steward donations and bolster long-term financial sustainability.

When asked why preserving trees and our urban forest is important to her, Beth responded, “I know I am so positively affected by the presence of trees and the influence trees have on our local environment. Trees and their impact uniquely fill a host of solutions that nothing else does.” Canopy is honored to have Beth May and her wealth of experience on our team as we work toward a day when every resident of the Midpeninsula can step outside to walk, play, and thrive under the shade of healthy trees.


Beth lives in Palo Alto with her family and golden retriever, Grace. In her free time, Beth enjoys hiking and running, listening to her husband play music, and spending time in groves of redwoods and aspen, her favorite trees.

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