Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has launched a new grant program aimed at supporting the restoration and maintenance of abandoned or neglected cemeteries across the state. The initiative will provide ten Cemetery Relief Fund Grants each year, with each grant valued up to $20,000. Funding for these grants comes from the FY26 state budget, which was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker.

Eligible applicants include units of local government and not-for-profit organizations, such as not-for-profit cemetery authorities. Applications can be submitted online, with a deadline set for October 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,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. “This program will help qualified cemeteries obtain the resources they need to restore the beauty of countless final resting places across Illinois.”

Applicants must provide documentation proving eligibility. Local government units need to show that the person submitting the application has appropriate authority, while not-for-profits must verify their status. If an applicant does not own the cemetery in question, they must either obtain permission from the owner or explain why this is not possible. Additional requirements include having a valid FEIN number, being in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, registering in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal (https://grants.illinois.gov/portal/) at the time of application, and meeting criteria under the Cemetery Oversight Act.

To assist interested entities, AmpliFund—Illinois’ Grant Management Support—will conduct a virtual training session on September 4 at 3 p.m., accessible through an online link. The session will also be recorded for later viewing on IDFPR’s YouTube page.

Questions regarding the program can be directed to Denise Bullocks, IDFPR Deputy Director of Cemetery and Funeral Oversight.