Chicago, IL – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced Friday that it is launching a new grant program to help restore and maintain cemeteries across the state that have fallen into neglect or abandonment.
According to IDFPR, ten Cemetery Relief Fund Grants will be awarded annually, with each grant valued at up to $20,000. The program is supported by funding included in the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker. The application window is open now, with a deadline of Oct. 24, 2025.
“Cemeteries hold deep historical and emotional significance for local communities, and it is vital they are properly maintained for future generations to honor and remember their loved ones,” IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. said in a statement.
Eligible applicants include units of local government and not-for-profit organizations, such as not-for-profit cemetery authorities. Applicants who do not own the cemetery must secure written permission from the property owner or provide a valid explanation of why that is not possible. Applicants must also be in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), and be registered in the state’s Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal.
AmpliFund, Illinois’ grant management support provider, will host a virtual training session for interested applicants on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 3 p.m. The session will also be recorded and posted on IDFPR’s YouTube channel for later viewing.
Questions about the Cemetery Relief Fund Grant Program can be directed to Denise Bullocks, IDFPR Deputy Director of Cemetery and Funeral Oversight, at denise.bullocks@illinois.gov or 312-814-6187.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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