Veterans Cemetery Grants Program
Open Opportunities (1)
Live Grants.gov opportunities funded under this program — you can apply now.
- Veterans Cemetery Grants Deadline: Jul 1, 2026 · up to $60M
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Who has received this funding
Organizations awarded under CFDA 64.203 (USAspending.gov).
- Texas General Land Office 2 awards $28,729,575
- Alaska Department Of Military And Veteran'S Affairs $16,712,172
- Department Of Veterans Affairs Minnesota $11,019,763
- Military And Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Department Of $8,441,040
- Nebraska Department Of Veterans' Affairs $8,391,524
- Department Of Veterans Services $8,346,019
- Veterans Affairs, Maryland Department Of $7,682,323
- Tn Department Of Veterans Services $7,324,479
- Oklahoma Dept Of Veterans Affairs $7,301,245
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
In 2025, VA grant funded Veterans cemeteries interred 43,705 Veterans and eligible family members, or approximately 25.06% of the total annual interments in all national, state, territory, and tribal cemeteries (174,398). Additionally, VCGP established two new cemeteries with a third (Lubbock) to be dedicated in 2026: New York (Finger Lakes - New Burial Option of 480 Columbarium Niches), Nebraska (Grand Island – 1,694 Burial Options) and Texas (Lubbock – 1,600 Burial Options). These three cemeteries provide burial options to 48,120 (13,604, 13,047, and 21,469 respectively) unserved Veterans and their eligible family members.
In 2024, VA grant funded Veterans cemeteries interred 42,720 Veterans and eligible family members, or approximately 24% of the total annual interments in all national, state, territory, and tribal cemeteries (176,965).
In 2022 and 2023, the program opened three new VA grant funded Veterans cemeteries. The Seaman First Class Billy Turner Veterans Cemetery in Ardmore, Oklahoma, a new tribal Veterans cemetery, Metlakatla Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Metlakatla, Alaska and the State Veterans Cemetery at Redwood Falls in rural Southwestern Minnesota. These three cemeteries provide a burial option to 29,563 unserved Veterans and their eligible family members.
Program Objective
The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program assists states, territories, counties, and federally recognized tribal governments in the establishment, expansion, and improvement of veterans' cemeteries.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- U.S. State Government
- U.S. Territory Government
- Federally Recognized Tribal Government
- Local
Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments, States and eligible County Governments. States (means each of the States, Territories, and possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico); Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments.; Eligible Counties may apply. 38 USC 2408.
How to Apply
Application Procedure
Submit Standard Form 424 (through Grants.gov), "Application for Federal Assistance for Construction Programs", including all necessary assurances and all required supporting documentation, to the Director, Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (41C), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20420.
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards apply to this program.
Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on Grants.gov.
Award Procedure
§ 39.35 Final review and approval of application. Following VA approval of bid tabulations and cost estimates, VA will review the complete Establishment, Expansion, Improvement, and Operation and Maintenance Project grant application for approval in accordance with the requirements of § 39.30 or § 39.30. If the application is approved, the grant will be awarded by a Memorandum of Agreement of Federal grant funds.
Upon receipt of a complete preapplication for a grant, including all necessary assurances and all required supporting documentation, VA will determine whether the preapplication conforms to all requirements listed in paragraphs (a) through (d) of 38 CFR 39.81, including whether it contains sufficient information necessary to establish the project's priority. VA will notify the State or Tribal Organization of any nonconformity. If the preapplication conforms, VA shall notify the State or Tribal Organization that the preapplication has been found to meet the preapplication requirements, and the proposed project will be included in the next scheduled ranking of projects, as indicated in § 39.3(d).
Program details & compliance
Description
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Cemetery Grants Program was established in 1978 to complement VA’s national cemeteries. The program assists states, territories, counties, and federally recognized tribal governments in providing gravesites for Veterans in those areas where NCA cannot fully satisfy their burial needs.
Mission Categories
Primary: Construction, Renewal and Operations
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Construction/Renewal/Rehabilitation
Monetary assistance is provided under this program to establish, expand, and improve State, eligible County, or Tribal government veterans’ cemeteries. Cemeteries must be State or Tribal Government owned and operated solely for the interment of eligible veterans and their dependents and/or spouses. Construction cost means the amount of funds necessary to convert a tract of land to an operational Veterans cemetery. *Tribal Government refers to federally recognized tribal governments.
Required Documentation
Conforming Pre-application.
Submit Standard Form 424, "Application for Federal Assistance for Construction Programs," with attachments, to the Director, Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (41C), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20420.
Matching Requirements
Matching Requirements (Percent: 10): The matching requirement is reimbursable after the grant is awarded. It assures that Architect & Engineering Fees for design are available for required submissions prior to grant award.
There are no maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements for this program.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements