Starting Small: Cemetery Preservation on a Budget
Plus, the latest updates on the African American Cemeteries & Graves Fund grant program.
By Angel Williams | DHR African American Cemeteries & Graves Fund Coordinator
Preserving a historic cemetery does not always begin with a large project—or a large budget. Some of the most important first steps can be simple, affordable, and accomplished over time.
Regular mowing and grounds maintenance, removing litter and light vegetation, photographing grave markers, gathering burial records, documenting family histories, and keeping track of changes in cemetery conditions can all contribute to long-term preservation. Community volunteers, descendants, churches, civic organizations, and other local partners can also be valuable resources for appropriate cleanup and stewardship efforts.
For those ready to get started, DHR’s Citizen’s Guide to Cemetery Maintenance is a helpful resource for understanding appropriate cemetery care and how to approach maintenance without unintentionally damaging graves, markers, or other historic features.
The Guide is also an important resource for current and previous AACGF grant recipients. As part of the Fund’s Routine Maintenance Agreement, grant recipients agree to carry out cemetery maintenance in accordance with DHR’s recommended practices. Revisiting the Guide from time to time is a helpful way to keep those practices in mind as routine care continues, whether that work is supported by an AACGF award, volunteers, or other resources.
Good documentation and routine care can also help cemetery stewards better understand what their cemetery needs, what they may be able to accomplish themselves, and when professional assistance may be appropriate.
The African American Cemetery and Graves Fund (AACGF) can help support eligible routine maintenance and, when appropriate, larger preservation projects requiring professional expertise. Preservation can start with what you have, where you are, and grow from there.
Program Activity at-a-Glance
The current fiscal year officially began on July 1, 2026, and will run through May 30, 2027. As of September 21, 2026, the following grants were awarded:
- 13 Basic Maintenance Grants
To date, the program has distributed $10,090.00 in total funding through basic maintenance and grants.
Cemeteries Funded in FY2026-27 (as of September 21, 2026)
ALBEMARLE COUNTY
Piedmont Baptist Church Cemetery
St. John Baptist Church Cemetery
Mount Calvary Baptist Church Cemeteries
Mount Olivet Baptist Church Cemetery
First Baptist Covesville Church Cemetery
Kindred Hill Cemetery
CAROLINE COUNTY
Oliver Cemetery
CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE
Chestnut Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
Oak Union Baptist Church Cemetery
Union Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery
FAIRFAX COUNTY
Nova Parks Burial Grounds
HENRICO COUNTY
St. John Baptist Church Cemetery
LOUDOUN COUNTY
Waterford Union Churches 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 January 1,1900 (regardless of date of death) AND the graves of any individuals born in or after January 1,1900 and interred prior to January 1, 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 stewarding abandoned cemeteries. 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 2025-2026 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.
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