Joseph and Sharon Darcey Foundation
The Joseph and Sharon Darcey Foundation is a private foundation based in Watertown, Wisconsin, established in 1993. The foundation was created by Joseph W. Darcey and Sharon Flanagan-Holthaus to support charitable causes aligned with their values of community investment and people-centered philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$325K
-1.5% YoY
Grant Count
20
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+18.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities center on education, human services, and community development. According to foundation representatives, "Joseph and Sharon Darcey have always focused on people." The foundation has historically provided scholarships to students and supports program initiatives in education and human services sectors.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Community Development and Programming
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation donated $150,000 to launch the Town Square Future Fund, an endowment to support programming and operations of the Bentzin Family Town Square in Watertown.
Grant Range
$5,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Texas, with a particular emphasis on the Watertown, Wisconsin area. Historically, the foundation has provided scholarships to students at Watertown High School, Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Resources (2024):
- Total assets: $5,914,506
- Total revenues: $574,905
- Total expenses: $396,766
- Investment income and dividends: $146,985
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $422,972
Assets & Resources (2023):
- Total assets: $6,500,000
- Total distributions: $329,000
The foundation has no employees and operates with volunteer leadership.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ymca of Watertown ($100,000), Watertown Community Foundation ($64,000), St Jude Academy ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WATERTOWN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WATERTOWN, WI | SCHOLARSHIPS | $64,000 |
| HAUS OF PEACE WATERTOWN, WI | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| FEEDING AMERICA MILWAUKEE, WI | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| MOUNT MERCY UNIVERSITY CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| WATERTOWN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WATERTOWN, WI | AIRPORT UPGRADE | $4,000 |
| UW MADISON FOUNDATION MADISON, WI | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| WATERTOWN MAIN STREET PROGRAM WATERTOWN, WI | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| ST VINCENT DEPAUL CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| WATERTOWN COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES WATERTOWN, WI | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| WATERTOWN FAMILY AID WATERTOWN, WI | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Sharon Darcey (Director)
- Jon Holthaus (Director)
- Daniel P Shea (Director)
- Charles Corbett (Director)
- Lloyd Holterman (Director)
- Tim Schuler (Director)
- Michael Kraemer (Director)
Jon Holthaus serves as a representative of the foundation and is a Watertown native.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHARON DARCEY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JON HOLTHAUS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DANIEL P SHEA | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CHARLES CORBETT | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| LLOYD HOLTERMAN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| TIM SCHULER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MICHAEL KRAEMER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| KEVIN KUCKKAN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In a significant community initiative, the Joseph and Sharon Darcey Foundation partnered with Watertown Regional Medical Center and the Redevelopment Authority to support the Bentzin Family Town Square. The foundation's $150,000 donation launched the Town Square Future Fund to provide year-round programming and operational support for the community venue. This gift was matched by Watertown Regional Medical Center's commitment of $50,000 annually for three years.
Delaware Community Foundation Awards $269,365 in Capital Grants to 21 DelawareAccording to Jon Holthaus, the foundation identified this opportunity as aligned with the Darcey Foundation's core values of investing in people and community development.
Delaware Community Foundation Awards $269,365 in Capital Grants to 21 DelawareFrequently Asked Questions
What does Joseph and Sharon Darcey Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities center on education, human services, and community development. According to foundation representatives, "Joseph and Sharon Darcey have always focused on people." The foundation has historically provided scholarships to students and supports program initiatives in education and human services sectors. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Human Services • Community Development and Programming • Philanthropy and Voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph and Sharon Darcey Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $324,500 • Total giving (2023): $329,000 • Number of grants (2023): 24 grants • Median grant size: $5,000 • Maximum grant size: $85,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • St Jude Academy Incorporated: $40,000 (Program Support) • Haus of Peace: $20,000 (Program Support) • Cornerstone of Grace: $20,000 (Program Support) **Notable Initiative:** The foundation donated $150,000 to launch the Town Square Future Fund, an endowment to support programming and operatio…
Where does Joseph and Sharon Darcey Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Texas, with a particular emphasis on the Watertown, Wisconsin area. Historically, the foundation has provided scholarships to students at Watertown High School, Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
What size grants does Joseph and Sharon Darcey Foundation award?
In 2024, Joseph and Sharon Darcey Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $325K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Joseph and Sharon Darcey Foundation's EIN?
Joseph and Sharon Darcey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1715481. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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