IDFPR

Allows not-for-profit organizations and units of local government access to grant funds to clean up cemeteries that have been abandoned, neglected, or are otherwise in need of additional care

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225 ILCS 411/25-75

68 IL Admin. Code 1249.350

To provide units of local government and not for profit organizations, including, but not limited to, not-for-profit cemetery authorities, grants to clean up cemeteries that have been abandoned, neglected, or are otherwise in need of additional care.

Yes

Abandoned - Cemeteries in Illinois are considered abandoned when there have been no internments for 30 years and the cemetery has been exempt from property taxes during that period or when there is no cemetery authority to care for the land. Permission - permission must be obtained from the landowner. If there is uncertainty about who owns the land, visit the recorder of deeds in the county court house where the cemetery is located.

Nonprofit Organizations; Other;

Applicants, in addition to being an eligible entity under the Cemetry Oversight Act, must be: (1) registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act Grantee Portal; (2) have a valid FEIN number; (3) have a current SAM.gov registration; (4) have a valid UEI number; (5) not be on the Federal Excluded Parties list; (6) be in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State; (7) not be on the Illinois Stop Payment List; (8) not be on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Provider Sanctions list.

Units of local governments and not for profit organizations to clean up cemeteries that are abandoned, neglected, or are otherwise in need of additional care

Project Grants

Government Services

Units of local government will need to submit proof that the individual submitting the application has the authority to do so. Not-for-profits will need to submit proof of their not-for-profit status. Those cemeteries seeking to obtain a grant for purposes other than cleaning up abandoned cemeteries must submit a memo outlining the need for the funds and pictures as proof of purpose, which shall include, but is not limited to (1) unavailability of funds, (2) an inability to complete the work on their own without the funds, (3) an explanation of the problem or problems the funds will fix, (4) the scope of work to be completed with the proposed funds, (5) the benefits of the proposed project and funds.

All grantees are required to register with the State of Illinois through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) website, www.grants.illinois.gov, complete a prequalification process, and be determined "qualified" as described in Section 7000.70. Registration and prequalification is required before an organization can apply for an award. The entity is "qualified" to be an awardee if it: 1) has an active DUNS or UEI number, as applicable; 2) has an active SAM.gov account; 3) is in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, if the Illinois Secretary of State requires the entity's organization type to be registered. Governmental entities, school districts and select religious organizations are not required to be registered with the Illinois Secretary of State; 4) is not on the Illinois Stop Payment List; 5) is not on the SAM.gov Exclusion List; 6) is not on the Illinois Medicaid Sanctions List.

Submission of required materials via the State of Illinois Grant Management System.

Factors also taken into consideration are prior awards for the same location, proof of contact with any proposed owners of the neglected or abandoned cemeteries, and other information the Department may deem necessary

It will be a merit-based review of applications submitted by the eligible recipients on a competitive basis. Each proposal will be scored on a 100 point scale taking into consideration: Need, Capacity, and Quality. Each successful applicant will be notified by letter or email of the decision regarding the submitted application.

Applications are due to the Department by October 1, 2025

December 2025

44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.350(g)

This grant is not subject to renewals. Each grant must be re-applied to for qualifying grantees.

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The funds can only be used to clean up cemeteries that have been abandoned, neglected, or which are in need of additional care.

Submit program reports Submit financial status reports Submit timekeeping certifications Submit closeout financial status report, property inventory, and closeout program report

Audit requirements per JCAR Title 44 Illinois Administrative Code 7000.90

All financial records on approved projects must be maintained and retained in accordance with State laws, by the grantee for possible State audit after the grant has been fully paid out. 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.430.

Illinois Comptroller Fund 0833

TBD

$0-$10,000.

The funding provided by the Cemetery Grant Program is meant to allow units of local government and not-for-profit organizations the opportunity to compete for funds that would allow them to clean up neglected and abandoned cemeteries in the State.

TBD

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Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Cemeteries. 555 W. Monroe, 5th Floor Chicago, IL 60661.

https://idfpr.illinois.gov/

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FY 2026 : $14,000,000