The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing has opened the application period for its fiscal year 2025 Cemetery Grant Program.
The grant cycle has $104,000 available to help Ohio cemeteries with upkeep and exceptional operation costs. The deadline for applications is July 31.
Registered nonprofit cemeteries can apply for a grant of up to $2,500 and applicants with fewer than five registered cemeteries may apply for grant funds every other year.
“By offering grants specifically for special projects and essential repairs beyond routine maintenance, we aim to support Ohio’s cemeteries’ efforts to preserve their rich history,” said Daphne Hawk, superintendent of the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing.
The Cemetery Grant Program is designed to help cover costs related to exceptional maintenance or the training of cemetery personnel in the maintenance and operation of cemeteries.
Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 4767.09, reasonable maintenance, which includes work completed during day-to-day operations, is not considered exceptional for purposes of awarding grants. In addition, the purchase of land for expansion or the purchase columbaria are not considered exceptional projects. Exceptional maintenance covers non-routine, non-repetitive maintenance items and projects.
Previous cemetery projects have included tree removal, upgrades to cemetery records software, cemetery surveying and mapping, employee training on cemetery maintenance and preservation, driveway sealing, repair and/or replacement of fencing, monument repair work and purchasing equipment such as mowers and steel tripods.
“Each cemetery is unique in its operational requirements and budget, so types of eligible projects and what qualifies as exceptional needs can vary from cemetery to cemetery,” said Hawk. “Part of the application process is for a cemetery to explain why a particular project should be considered exceptional to their particular situation.”
Application requirements and scoring information are included with the grant announcement and application. Interested cemeteries should read the grant instructions carefully to help maximize their chances of being awarded grant funding.
Eligible registered nonprofit cemeteries may apply for the grant by submitting online applications here. For additional information, see the divisions’ FY 2025 Cemetery Grant Instruction package or contact the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing.
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