FY2026 Cemetery Grants

The Cemetery Grant Program for State Fiscal Year 2026 is administered by the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (REPL). This division is responsible for regulating cemeteries in the state and is offering this grant opportunity to support the ongoing mission of maintaining cemeteries across Ohio. The program is designed to help defray the costs of exceptional cemetery maintenance or to provide training for cemetery personnel in the maintenance and operation of cemeteries. Exceptional maintenance is defined broadly and includes non-routine and non-repetitive maintenance work that goes beyond the ordinary upkeep as outlined under Ohio Revised Code section 4767.09. Routine and day-to-day cemetery operations are not eligible under this grant. The total amount of funding available for this cycle is $104,000. Applications can be submitted starting July 1, 2025, and must be submitted by 11:59 PM on July 31, 2025. The grant application can be accessed online at https://cemeterygrants.com.ohio.gov/. Eligibility for the grant is limited to properly registered cemeteries in the state of Ohio. Cemeteries that are for-profit corporations, family cemeteries, or those that have not had a burial in the last 25 years are not eligible. Furthermore, applicants can only apply every other year for one grant of up to $2,500, unless they operate five or more registered cemeteries, in which case they may apply annually. Funding may only be used for expenses incurred after formal approval of the grant application and the execution of a grant award agreement. No funds may be used retroactively for activities or purchases made before the award. The application process is competitive and must be completed in full for consideration; incomplete applications will not be accepted. Once started, applications cannot be saved and must be completed and submitted in a single session. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare all required materials before beginning the application process. Additional resources and guidance are available through the linked “GRANT INSTRUCTIONS” document provided on the grant website. For questions, applicants should contact Emma Wilson at the Ohio Department of Commerce via phone at (614) 466-4100 or email at [email protected]. The grant is not recurring annually for every applicant due to its alternating-year rule, but it is available each fiscal year. Therefore, recurring applicants—particularly those managing five or more cemeteries—may anticipate annual application opportunities. Stakeholders can sign up for email updates through the Division’s cemetery stakeholder email list to remain informed on deadlines and application cycles.