Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Friday, June 5, 2026

The Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing announces applications for the Cemetery Grant Program will be open starting on July 1, 2026 and running through July 31, 2026 for Fiscal Year 2027.

The Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing will be accepting applications for fiscal year 2027 starting July 1, 2026 for the Cemetery Grant Program.:

"Grant applications may only be submitted online and must be submitted no later than July 31, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. to be considered."
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"Please gather all information prior to entering the application online. Once you start the application, the information entered cannot be saved and if you exit out of the application you will lose all information previously entered. The application site will time out if left open and inactive for longer than 6 hours."
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"FY2027 Cemetery Grant — Applications open July 1, 2026

Apply starting July 1, 2026: the application will be available at https://cemeterygrants.com.ohio.gov/.

Get updates: cemetery operators can join the cemetery stakeholder email list here.

Questions? Email us at CemeteryGrants@com.ohio.gov.

What the grant pays for:

  • Non-routine, exceptional maintenance of registered cemeteries.
  • Training for cemetery personnel in cemetery maintenance and operation.

What does not qualify

  • Day-to-day or routine maintenance is not considered "exceptional" under Ohio Revised Code section 4767.09.
  • Cemeteries that are for-profit corporations are not eligible.
  • A cemetery that has not had a burial in the last 25 years or a family cemetery is exempt from registration and does not qualify for a grant.
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    *****How often and how much*****
  • Most operators may apply every other year for one grant of up to $5,000.
  • Operators with five or more cemeteries registered with the Division may apply each year.

Important: 

"Grant funds cannot be used for work or purchases made before the Superintendent formally approves the grant application and the Division receives a signed grant award agreement." 
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A link to the October 14, 2025 listing of recipients of the Ohio Cemetery Grant Fund. 

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