Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao
Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao is a private foundation based in Mercer Island, Washington. Its 2025 filing reports 19 grants totaling $81,050 to charitable organizations working in areas including cancer research and care, food justice, health access, refugee support, children’s welfare, and youth soccer.
Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao at a glance
In short: Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao gave $81K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $81,050
- +8005.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +1800.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,266
- +326.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,340,758
- +1.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Washington (56% 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 Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 1001, Mercer Island, WA 98040-9804
Phone: (206) 963-8885
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center ($15K). Together the top 10 received $73K.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 29 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 56% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, 14% to recipients in DC, 10% to Missouri, 7% to Maryland, and 7% to New York. These figures describe the locations of listed recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
How Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao gives
- Giving grew 103% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 81% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $1K (2024) to $81K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $81K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Seattle, WA | Prevent and Eliinate Cancer | $15,000 |
| Northwest Harvest Emm Seattle, WA | Grow Food Justice | $10,000 |
| Project Access Northwest Seattle, WA | Support Low-Income Families | $10,000 |
| Vasculitis Foundation Kansas City, MO | Support Individuals with Vasculitis | $8,000 |
| National Foundation for Cancer Rockville, MD | Support Cancer Reseach | $6,000 |
| United States Association for Unhcr Washington, DC | Protect and Support Refugees | $6,000 |
| United States Fund for UNICEF New York, NY | Pursue a Better World for Every Chil | $6,000 |
| Actives Minds Inc Washington, DC | Mental Health and Edu for Students | $5,000 |
| Bellevue Youth Soccer Club Bellevue, WA | Youth Soccer | $5,000 |
| University of Washington Foundation Seattle, WA | Support the University of Washington | $2,000 |
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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 | $1,340,758 | $117,733 | $93,748 | $81,050 | 19 | $81,050 | $105,178 | $99,671 |
| 2024 | $1,316,913 | $24,151 | $24,603 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | $4,428 | $87,291 |
| 2023 | $1,317,384 | $21,569 | $24,954 | $8,000 | 1 | $8,000 | $11,343 | $70,881 |
| 2022 | $1,320,888 | $-38,510 | $55,448 | $40,000 | 2 | $40,000 | $11,632 | $72,070 |
| 2021 | $1,418,068 | $200,332 | $85,240 | $60,500 | 6 | — | $185,402 | $74,571 |
| 2020 | $1,302,340 | $-75,092 | $94,972 | $74,600 | 6 | — | $30,691 | $68,135 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao reported a distributable amount of $100K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for health and medical organizations, food justice, refugee assistance, children, mental health education, and youth soccer. These are areas reflected in grants, not a stated foundation mission.
Among the grantees’ own descriptions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center says it unites research and care to prevent and eliminate cancer and infectious disease. Northwest Harvest EMM describes its mission as growing food justice through collective action, with a vision of ending hunger in Washington State. Project Access Northwest says it provides low-income families access to medical, dental, and behavioral health care. The Vasculitis Foundation describes work supporting people with vasculitis and their families through education, research, clinical, and awareness initiatives.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $81,050 through 19 grants. Grants ranged from $300 to $15,000, with a median grant of $2,000. Its largest reported grants included $15,000 to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, $10,000 each to Northwest Harvest EMM and Project Access Northwest, and $8,000 to the Vasculitis Foundation. Other notable grants were $6,000 each to the National Foundation for Cancer, the United States Association for UNHCR, and the United States Fund for UNICEF; $5,000 each to Actives Minds Inc and Bellevue Youth Soccer Club; and $2,000 to the University of Washington Foundation.
The grantees describe their work in their own terms: the United States Association for UNHCR says it protects and supports refugees, while the United States Fund for UNICEF says it advances UNICEF’s mission for children through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States. Bellevue Youth Soccer Club says it provides opportunities for youth to develop character and play affiliated soccer.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Darlene Liao as president, Mei-Yea Liao as director, and Dahlia Liao Mak as vice president.
Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao is led by Darlene Liao, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Darlene Liao
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mei-Yea Liao
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Dahlia Liao Mak
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao
How much does Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao give each year?
Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao gave $81K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1K across 1 grant.
What is Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao's typical grant size?
Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $4,266, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao give grants?
Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao gives mostly in Washington: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (14%) and Missouri (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (8 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao's largest grantees?
Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao's largest 2025 grantees include Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center ($15,000), Northwest Harvest Emm ($10,000) and Project Access Northwest ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao?
Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $81K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $100K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for health and medical organizations, food justice, refugee assistance, children, mental health education, and youth soccer. These are areas reflected in grants, not a stated foundation mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao's EIN?
Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4390027. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/paul-bao-ho-and-mei-yea-liao-morg_f881da935a1e4212ae3c12fe46740da8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_274390027_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/paul-bao-ho-and-mei-yea-liao-morg_f881da935a1e4212ae3c12fe46740da8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Paul BAO-Ho and MEI-Yea Liao's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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