Esherick-Ye Foundation
The Esherick-Ye Foundation is a private foundation based in Berkeley, California, supporting research on modern Chinese history and the archaeology of China. Its website says it was founded in 2016 by Joseph W. Esherick and Ye Wa to support students and junior faculty conducting research and fieldwork.
Esherick-Ye Foundation at a glance
In short: Esherick-Ye Foundation gave $51K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $51,275
- +91.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +160.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,944
- -26.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,640
- Total assets
- $1,151,920
- +21.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Esherick-Ye Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website provides separate application forms for students and faculty and says applications are submitted by upload. The 2024 filing describes the required materials as Word and PDF files, including transcripts and reference letters.
- Review Cycle
- The deadline for 2027 applications is January 15, 2027. The website says applications for that cycle are being accepted.
- Deadline
- The deadline for 2027 applications is January 15, 2027.
- Contact
Application contact: Joseph Esherick
Mailing address: 1009 Miller Ave, Berkeley, CA 94708
Phone: (510) 356-4736
Website: https://www.esherick-yefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Esherick-Ye Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jason Chan ($6K). Together the top 10 received $46K.
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 45 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its research grants as generally supporting travel to China for archival research or fieldwork. In filing year 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in California (41%), Massachusetts (12%), Connecticut (12%), Illinois (10%), and New Hampshire (9%), among other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Esherick-Ye Foundation gives
- Giving grew 48% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2020) to $51K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $51K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Chan Cambridge, MA | Grant for fieldwork research on thesis: Permafrost Science and the Trans-polar History of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway 1954-2006 | $6,000 |
| Junyi Han New Haven, CT | Grant for fieldwork research on thesis: Collapse of the Sino-Vietnamese Alliance in Cold War Yunnan 1964-1993 | $6,000 |
| Zhaorui Lu Irvine, CA | Grant for fieldwork research on thesis: Gender Grassroots Politics and State Building in the PRC 1949-1990s | $5,600 |
| Yuwei Zhou Chicago, IL | Grant for fieldwork research on thesis: Mortuary and Urban Landscapes of Late Shang 1250-1046 BC Anyang | $5,000 |
| Gaoziyan Cui Santa Barbara, CA | Grant for fieldwork research on thesis: The Superiority of Rights in the Tungsten Industry of China 1907-present | $4,700 |
| Ashley Shults Riverside, CA | Grant for fieldwork research on thesis: Bioarchaeological Study of Daily Life and Identity During the Tang-Song Transition | $4,640 |
| Yiyi Tang Hanover, NH | Grant for fieldwork research on thesis: Rice Consumption in the Late Neolithic Liangzhu Culture in Southern China | $4,640 |
| Anke Wang Ithaca, NY | Grant for fieldwork research on thesis: Nature Sovereignty and Development in the Gulf of Tonkin 1880-1970 | $4,095 |
| Shuhui Zhou Seattle, WA | Grant for fieldwork research on thesis: Environmental Governmentality in the Qing Era Wuling Mountains | $2,980 |
| Ariadin Jones Los Angeles, CA | Grant for fieldwork research on thesis: Bioarchaeological Study of the Mogou Cemetery | $2,820 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,151,920 | $240,518 | $59,419 | $51,275 | 13 | $59,419 | $19,248 | $51,525 |
| 2024 | $950,973 | $94,011 | $29,532 | $26,762 | 5 | $29,532 | $27,379 | $42,291 |
| 2023 | $781,915 | $72,985 | $45,723 | $45,590 | 11 | $45,630 | $15,487 | $35,181 |
| 2022 | $655,478 | $-8,469 | $35,130 | $34,750 | 7 | $35,130 | $6,717 | $34,148 |
| 2021 | $735,003 | $157,689 | $35,541 | $33,720 | 9 | $33,901 | $116,608 | $31,016 |
| 2020 | $590,359 | $40,208 | $6,662 | $6,450 | 3 | — | $124,964 | $25,288 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Esherick-Ye Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support the next generation of China scholars through systematic, empirically based, original research on China’s modern history and ancient archaeology. Its website describes its grants as generally intended for research on modern Chinese economic, social, and political history or the archaeology of China, especially archival research and fieldwork. Grants may supplement other research funding.
Applicants must be graduate students or untenured faculty members conducting research on modern Chinese history or the archaeology of China at a university or college. The foundation says it gives particular attention to project feasibility where regulations may affect access to archives or fieldwork, and encourages contingency plans.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $51,275. The listed awards ranged from $1,100 to $6,000, with a median of $4,640. The largest listed awards were $6,000 each for graduate thesis fieldwork, on topics ranging from the history of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Cold War Yunnan; other awards supported research on PRC state building and late Shang archaeology.
The foundation’s website says applications are evaluated by its board. Applicants must submit an application form, a 1,000–2,000-word description of proposed activities, a proposed budget, information about other project funding, a CV, two academic recommendation letters, and an affirmation that the application is accurate. Graduate students must also submit a transcript. The website says budgets at the $7,000 maximum receive particular scrutiny. The foundation’s 2024 filing states that awards are restricted to graduate-level fieldwork and projects in modern Chinese history and China archaeology, and that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joseph Esherick as president and director; Ye Wa as secretary and director; Lily Wu as treasurer; and Michael G Chang, Rowan Flad, Denise Y Ho, Elizabeth Berger, and Emily Baum as directors.
Esherick-Ye Foundation is led by Joseph Esherick, President Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joseph Esherick
President Director
President & Director → President Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael G Chang
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rowan Flad
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ye Wa
Secretary Director
Secretary & Director → Secretary Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Y Ho
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Berger
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Baum
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lily Wu
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Madeleine Yue Dong (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Jeremy Brown (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Esherick-Ye Foundation
How much does Esherick-Ye Foundation give each year?
Esherick-Ye Foundation gave $51K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 5 grants.
What is Esherick-Ye Foundation's typical grant size?
Esherick-Ye Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,640, and its average grant was $3,944, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Esherick-Ye Foundation give grants?
Esherick-Ye Foundation's top state is California, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (12%) and Connecticut (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Esherick-Ye Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Esherick-Ye Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Esherick-Ye Foundation's largest grantees?
Esherick-Ye Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Jason Chan ($6,000), Junyi Han ($6,000) and Zhaorui Lu ($5,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Esherick-Ye Foundation?
Esherick-Ye Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $59K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $52K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Esherick-Ye Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support the next generation of China scholars through systematic, empirically based, original research on China’s modern history and ancient archaeology. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Esherick-Ye Foundation?
The website provides separate application forms for students and faculty and says applications are submitted by upload. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Esherick-Ye Foundation's EIN?
Esherick-Ye Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1533848. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 8, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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