Grant awards from the African American Cemetery & Graves Fund (AACGF) support important work taking place across Virginia. Projects that use funding from AACGF help preserve history, strengthen community connections, and ensure the long-term care of African American cemeteries. While these projects make a meaningful impact on the ground, sharing their stories helps extend that impact even further. Read on to learn more about how you can submit an AACGF success story, get the latest AACGF updates, and how to find out if a grave or cemetery is eligible for funding.

By Angel Williams | African American Cemeteries & Graves Fund Coordinator

We are inviting past and current grant recipients to share their success stories. Your experience can help inspire other communities, provide guidance to future applicants, and highlight the importance of continued stewardship of these important historic sites.

What to Share:

Success stories can be brief and informal. Consider including any of the following:

• A short description of your cemetery and its history
• The type of grant received (Basic Maintenance or Extraordinary Block Grant)
• The work completed with grant funding
• How the project helped the cemetery or community
• Challenges you faced and lessons learned
• What you would share with others who are considering applying
• Before and after photos, if available

Selected stories may be featured on the DHR website, in newsletters, or as part of outreach and educational efforts to help elevate this work across Virginia.

Submission Deadline & Contact

Please submit your success story here by June 30, 2026.

If you are interested in submitting a success story or have questions about what to include, we encourage you to reach out to Angel Williams at aacgf@dhr.virginia.gov.

Your story plays an important role in preserving not only cemeteries, but the histories and communities connected to them.

 

AACGF Program Activity at a Glance

The current fiscal year officially began on July 1, 2025, and will run through May 30, 2026. As of April 20, 2026, the following grants were awarded:

• 26 Basic Maintenance Grants
• 9 Extraordinary Block Grants

To date, the program has distributed $232,466.70 in total funding through maintenance and block grants.

 

CEMETERIES FUNDED FY2025-26 (as of April 20, 2026)

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
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery
Evans Cemetery
Mt. View Cemetery

CAROLINE COUNTY
Oliver Cemetery

CITY OF ALEXANDRIA
African American Cemeteries of Alexandria

CITY OF CHARLOTESVILLE
Chestnut Grove Church
Union Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery

CITY OF DANVILLE
Flippen Cemetery

CITY OF HAMPTON
Elmerton Cemetery
Bassette Cemetery

CITY OF RICHMOND
Forest View Cemetery

CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH
Smallwood Ackiss Family Cemetery

ESSEX COUNTY
Angel Visit Baptist Church Cemetery-Ozeana

FLUVANNA COUNTY
Union Baptist Church-Shores
West Bottom Baptist Church-Oak Hill Cemetery

GLOUCESTER COUNTY
First Baptist Church Cemetery-GFC

HANOVER COUNTY
Hickory Hill Slave and African American Cemetery
Brooks Family Cemetery

HENRICO COUNTY
Woodland Cemetery

LOUDOUN COUNTY
Waterford Union of Churches Cemetery
Solon 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.

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The Department’s Historic 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.