Virginia Historical African American Cemetery and Graves Fund
Virginia Historical African American Cemetery and Graves Fund supports stewards of historic African American burial places in Virginia, funding care, documentation, and preservation to sustain them over time.
Funder: Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Due Dates: May 30, 2027 (FY2027 application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Basic Maintenance: $5 per eligible grave; Extraordinary Block: no minimum or maximum; up to $400,000 available in FY2027
Summary: Supports the care, documentation, and preservation of historic African American cemeteries and graves in Virginia.
Key Information: Applicants must receive a Basic Maintenance Grant before qualifying for an Extraordinary Block Grant.
Description
Administered by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR), the Virginia Historical African American Cemetery and Graves Fund helps preserve burial places associated with African American history across the Commonwealth. It supports applicants responsible for the care and stewardship of qualifying cemeteries, with the goal of sustaining these historic and cultural resources over the long term.
The fund offers Basic Maintenance Grants for recurring work such as vegetation management and careful cleaning of markers. Extraordinary Block Grants support work beyond routine upkeep, including cemetery documentation, preservation planning, approved ground-penetrating radar surveys, monument conservation, in-kind repairs, and wayfinding or interpretive signage.
