Veterans Cemetery Grants Program
Veterans Cemetery Grants Program supports governments in building, expanding, improving, and maintaining Veterans cemeteries to extend burial services where national cemeteries cannot fully meet needs.
Funder: Department of Veterans Affairs
Due Dates: July 1, 2027 (Annual preapplication) | July 15, 2027 (Annual full application request)
Funding Amounts: Up to 100% of approved development costs; FY2025 awards ranged from $657,855 to $16,712,172
Summary: Supports establishment, expansion, improvement, operation, and maintenance of government-owned Veterans cemeteries serving Veterans and eligible family members.
Key Information: Applicants must provide cemetery land and upfront design funds; VA cannot fund land acquisition.
Description
The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, administered by VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA), complements the national cemetery system by supporting burial services in areas where national cemeteries cannot fully meet Veterans’ needs. Established in 1978, it assists government applicants with establishing new cemeteries, expanding burial capacity, improving facilities, and undertaking operation and maintenance projects.
The program supports NCA’s goal of providing a Veterans cemetery within 75 miles of 95 percent of Veterans nationwide. Construction support covers work needed to convert land into an operational Veterans cemetery. Selection priorities emphasize continuity of burial service, new cemeteries, and phased development. Within its principal priority groups, VA favors locations where the greatest number of Veterans will benefit.
