First Recipients of IDFPR’s Cemetery Relief Fund Grants Making Strides to Restore Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries

First Recipients of IDFPR's Cemetery Relief Fund Grants Making Strides to Restore Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries

CHICAGO - Illinois' Cemetery Relief Grant Program is already laying the groundwork for a future in which abandoned and neglected cemeteries are no longer overlooked.

Launched last August, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) provides eligible local governments, not-for-profit organizations, and cemetery authorities with grants of up to $20,000 to clean, restore, and maintain cemeteries that have fallen into disrepair.

This past Spring, IDFPR awarded its first round of grants to 10 recipients to support projects aimed at revitalizing burial grounds across the state. The program reflects the Department's long-term commitment to ensuring communities have the needed resources to preserve and restore the beauty of final resting places across Illinois.

"Across Illinois, this program is already delivering meaningful improvements," said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. "Restored cemeteries mean protected history, safer grounds, and more inviting places for families to gather and remember. These changes help ensure loved ones are honored in beautiful, respectful settings for years to come."