哈佛燕京学社成立于1928年，其基金来自于查尔斯爵士捐赠的遗产。主要致力于资助和促进亚洲地区的高等院校和研究机构的社会科学和人文科学领域的研究，并且始终以推进有关中国文化的学术研究为主。

      哈佛燕京学社坐落在哈佛大学校园内，与哈佛大学联系密切，但在法律上与财政上均是独立的。该社运行管理由包括9名成员的董事会负责。哈佛-燕京学社有包括社长在内的少数职员，现任社长为哈佛大学政府系裴宜理教授。

      学社设有多种奖学金项目，其中包括资助攻读博士学位的研究生奖学金项目、博士生论文研究项目、访问学者项目等。学社也资助学术期刊和专题论文的出版，如三联—哈佛燕京学术丛书等，组织高级学术培训项目，并举办学术会议及其他形式的各类学术活动，从而最大程度地增进亚洲和哈佛大学以及美国其他高等院校的学者之间的学术交流。

 

      The Harvard-Yenching Institute (HYI) was founded in 1928 with funding provided solely from the estate of Charles M. Hall. The Institute is dedicated to supporting and advancing higher education in Asia in the humanities and social sciences, with special attention to the study of Chinese culture.

      HYI is independent of Harvard University on the legal and financial aspects, though it is located on the campus of Harvard University. It has a nine-member Board of Directors.  It consists of several members including the Director. Elizabeth J. Perry, Professor of School of Government in Harvard University, is the Director of HYI.

      The Harvard-Yenching Institute has several fellowship programs that bring scholars from Asia to conduct research at Harvard University, to participate in special training programs, or to attend graduate school at Harvard University as well as other universities in the U.S. and abroad. Also The Institute is a supporter of some independently published journals and books in China， such as SDX and HYI Academic Series.