African American Cemetery & Graves Fund

The Virginia Historical African American Cemetery and Graves Fund is administered by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, a state agency established to support the identification, preservation, and stewardship of historic and cultural resources across the Commonwealth. The program is authorized under the Code of Virginia and operates as a non reverting fund dedicated specifically to the preservation of historic African American cemeteries and graves. Through appropriations from the Virginia General Assembly, the fund provides financial assistance to organizations, property owners, and local governments responsible for maintaining and protecting these culturally significant sites. The primary purpose of the program is to support the care, documentation, preservation, and long term stewardship of historic African American cemeteries. Funding is intended to ensure these sites are protected from deterioration and that their historical and cultural significance is preserved for future generations. The program emphasizes both routine maintenance and more complex preservation efforts, enabling applicants to address immediate care needs while also planning for long term conservation and documentation. The fund offers two distinct funding opportunities. The Basic Maintenance Grant supports routine and recurring activities such as vegetation management, mowing, and basic cleaning of grave markers. This funding is calculated based on a formula of five dollars per eligible grave documented within a qualifying cemetery. The Extraordinary Block Grant supports more advanced preservation efforts including cemetery documentation, preservation planning, monument conservation, ground penetrating radar surveys, and interpretive or wayfinding signage. Applicants must first receive a Basic Maintenance Grant before becoming eligible for Extraordinary Block Grant funding, and all projects must meet detailed scope and documentation requirements. Eligible applicants include property owners, nonprofit or charitable organizations with a primary mission related to cemetery preservation, and local governments responsible for neglected cemeteries within their jurisdiction. To qualify, cemeteries must have been established on or before January first nineteen forty eight for the interment of African Americans and must meet minimum grave requirements. Additionally, cemeteries must be documented in or eligible for inclusion in the Virginia Cultural Resource Information System. Applicants are required to provide documentation demonstrating ownership or custodial responsibility, organizational eligibility, and compliance with state registration requirements where applicable. Applications are accepted throughout the fiscal year, which runs from July first to June thirtieth, and are reviewed on a rolling basis subject to funding availability. For Fiscal Year twenty twenty seven, the application period opens on July first twenty twenty six and closes on May thirtieth twenty twenty seven. Applicants must submit a complete application package including required forms, supporting documentation, and any additional materials needed to verify eligibility and project scope. Submission may be completed by mail or email to the Department of Historic Resources, and applicants are encouraged to consult program guidance materials prior to submission. The program includes specific reporting and compliance requirements for funding recipients. Awardees must submit documentation demonstrating appropriate use of funds, including a reconciliation of expenditures form and supporting records. Reporting typically occurs after the close of the fiscal year and is required for continued eligibility in future funding cycles. The program does not require matching funds, and funding decisions are made on a first come, first served basis depending on the availability of appropriations. Technical assistance is available throughout the process, and applicants may contact program staff for guidance on eligibility, documentation, and project planning.

Review the program manual carefully and ensure all required documentation is submitted; incomplete applications may delay or prevent funding; consult DHR staff early for eligibility and project planning