How to apply for the grant program, plus the latest updates and how to find out if a grave or cemetery is eligible for funding.

By Angel Williams | African American Cemeteries & Graves Fund Coordinator

Step One: Make Sure Your Cemetery Is Recorded in the Database

Before applying for a grant through the African American Cemetery & Graves Fund, one of the first and most important steps is to ensure that your cemetery is recorded in the Virginia Cultural Resources Information System (VCRIS).

VCRIS is Virginia’s online inventory of historic buildings, districts, archaeological sites, and other cultural landmarks. It serves as an official record of places that reflect our shared history—including African American cemeteries across the Commonwealth. By having your cemetery included, you help ensure that it is recognized, documented, and preserved as an important part of Virginia’s cultural heritage.

Being included in the database is important not only for grant eligibility but also for the broader purpose of preserving the history, culture, and stories connected to these sacred spaces.

Even if you are not planning to apply for funding at this time, adding your cemetery helps to:

• Maintain accurate records of historic African American burial sites;
• Identify preservation needs and opportunities for support; and
• Ensure that future generations can locate and honor these important places.

If you are uncertain whether your cemetery is already recorded, DHR staff can assist in determining its status and provide guidance on how to have it added to the database. Taking this step helps strengthen our collective efforts to preserve and honor Virginia’s African American cemeteries.

For assistance or additional information, please contact the African American Cemetery & Graves Fund program staff at aacgf@dhr.virginia.gov.

Program Activity at-a-Glance

The new fiscal year officially began on July 1, 2025, and will run through May 30, 2026. As of October 23, 2025, the following grants were awarded:

• 15 Basic Maintenance Grants
• 5 Extraordinary Block-Grants including Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology

To date, the program has distributed $143,217.30 in total funding through maintenance and block grants.

•••

CEMETERIES FUNDED 2025-26 (TO DATE)

Albemarle County
Oak Union Baptist Church Cemetery
Piedmont Baptist Church Cemetery
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church Cemetery
St. John Baptist Church Cemetery
Mount Calvary Baptist Church Cemeteries
First Baptist Church-Covesville

Caroline County
Oliver Cemetery

City of Charlottesville
Chestnut Grove Church
Union Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery

City of Danville
Flippen Cemetery

City of Virginia Beach
Smallwood Ackiss Family Cemetery

Fluvanna County
Union Baptist Church-Shores

Henrico County
Woodland Cemetery

Loudoun County
Waterford Union of Churches Cemetery

Orange County
Woodberry Cemetery

Rockbridge County
Asbury United Methodist Church Cemetery

We are encouraged by the momentum, interest and engagement in this important work and look forward to working with additional communities throughout the year.

The Department’s African American Cemetery & Graves Fund provides grants to support the maintenance and care of cemeteries established prior to 1948, specifically for the interment of African Americans. The graves of any individuals born prior to 1900 (regardless of date of death) AND the graves of any individuals born in or after 1900 and interred prior to 1948 are considered eligible. Birth and/or interment dates may be confirmed through headstone inscriptions, vital records, church records, newspaper obituaries, and other information sources. We will also accept the results of ground penetrating radar (GPR). Initial grants will be made at a rate of $5 per eligible grave, and recipients are thereafter invited to apply for block grants to fund “extraordinary maintenance” projects.

Applications may be filed by property owners, charitable organizations established specifically to care for African American cemeteries, and local governments. Property owners must provide proof of ownership and register with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) or be determined exempt from registration. Churches are exempt from this requirement. Charitable organizations must confirm their status as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, provide documentation of their mission regarding care of the cemetery, and be registered with VDACS or determined exempt from registration. Local governments applying for funds to care for cemeteries within their jurisdictions must provide either proof of ownership or formal determination that the cemetery in question is abandoned.

Please Note: All qualified organizations, including those listed in the Code of Virginia §10.1-2211.2, are required to submit an annual application to DHR by May 30 to be eligible for funding. Applications received after this date may not be considered for that funding cycle.

As a reminder to our current grant recipients, DHR requires that you submit a reconciliation of expenses to DHR after July 1 but no later than September 30. This reconciliation should document how grant funds were used in the maintenance of your cemetery and should include invoices or receipts if available. All materials should be forwarded to Angel Williams by mail at 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond VA 23221 or electronically at aacgf@dhr.virginia.gov. If you are a 2024-25 grant recipient and have not yet submitted your form, please contact us as soon as possible. DHR will be unable to disburse any additional grant funds to your organization if this information is not submitted and approved.