Veterans Cemetery Grants

The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP), administered by the VA National Cemetery Administration under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, supports the development, expansion, and improvement of cemeteries for veterans at the state, territorial, tribal, and county levels. Since its inception in 1980, the program has awarded 525 grants totaling over $1.187 billion to 47 states, 14 federally recognized tribes, and three territories. These grants have facilitated the creation and maintenance of 124 veterans cemeteries, with two more established in 2025 and a third scheduled to open in March 2026. These cemeteries provide dignified burial options for unserved Veterans and their eligible family members, aligning with federal goals to improve care and services for veterans. The primary objective of the VCGP is to ensure that veterans who do not live near a national veterans cemetery have access to burial options that meet federal standards. The grants may only be used to establish, expand, or improve veterans cemeteries owned and operated by eligible governmental entities, including states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments (on trust land), or counties that meet the legal standards set by 38 USC 2408. Grants can cover up to 100% of the development costs of approved projects, but they do not include funding for land acquisition. Operating equipment funding is restricted to new cemetery projects. Projects must comply with rigorous site selection, construction, and operational standards set by the VA. In addition, recipients must adhere to the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA), requiring that all construction materials (iron, steel, manufactured products) be produced in the United States. The domestic content requirement mandates that the cost of U.S.-made components exceeds 65% of the total. Only cemeteries exclusively serving veterans and their eligible family members are supported under this program, though a recent legal update has expanded burial eligibility to additional groups defined in 38 USC 2408(i)(2). The administration and maintenance of these cemeteries is the sole responsibility of the grantee entity. Notably, VA does not operate these cemeteries post-grant. In alignment with Executive Order 14332 on improving oversight of federal grantmaking, VA retains the discretion to disqualify applicants whose projects conflict with presidential or agency priorities, including any that promote racial preference, gender ideology, or violate immigration laws. Applications involving activities deemed scandalous, fraudulent, or morally inappropriate will also be excluded. The funding opportunity is announced annually and this current listing is for fiscal year 2026 pre-applications, targeting project funding from the FY 2027 priority list. The final application deadline is July 1, 2026, as outlined under 38 CFR 39.3(d). Eligible applicants must submit pre-applications by this date. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review site planning requirements and conform to all applicable federal standards. The total estimated program funding for FY 2026 is $60 million, and up to 30 awards are anticipated. For further information or support with the application process, interested applicants can contact Jon Muckey, the designated grantor and Deputy Director at the VA National Cemetery Administration, via phone at 202-461-1593. Additional information about the VCGP, including guidance and eligibility notices, is available through the program’s official website. Award notifications and funding decisions are made based on project inclusion in the priority list, with an emphasis on expanding access and quality of veteran burial services nationwide.