News Track: Cedar Rapids’ Czech National Cemetery raises enough money to get through the year, but challenges continue

Cedar Rapids’ Czech National Cemetery has faced major headwinds in recent years. Costs to keep the historic property maintained have increased, repairs and cleanup after the 2020 derecho were significant, and fewer people are choosing traditional burials.

The cemetery, located at 2200 C St. SW, was established in 1895. It is the final resting place of more than 9,300 people.

In June, the cemetery’s board went public with its financial troubles, announcing that it needed an infusion of money to pay for operations beyond Aug. 1. Its leaders said they were working to identify resources and benefactors as they explored long term solutions to make the cemetery financially stable.

The board put out a call for donations.

What’s happened since

Since June, the cemetery board has received $30,000 in donations — enough to pay for regular maintenance through the end of this year.

However, the cemetery still faces challenges in finding long-term financial solutions.

"Once the funds run out, we're going to have to, again, continue looking for ways to get us through next year," cemetery board secretary Kathy Valenta said.

McGrath Auto was the cemetery's largest donor, contributing $25,000. The rest of the money was donated by private individuals in the community.

The cemetery’s annual budget falls between $30,000 and $50,000, with mowing being the biggest expense. In June, the board said its fundraising goal was $200,000, hoping to build some financial sustainability.

In addition to paying for ground maintenance, board member Matt Linn told The Gazette in June that additional funds would be used to resurface roads within the cemetery and replenish the tree canopy, which lost 100 trees in the derecho.

"The $30,000 will get us through the immediate, pressing concerns, but we still need to figure out a long-term sustainable model that maybe doesn't require donations," Linn said.

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Valenta said funding options the board is exploring include seeking sponsors to help establish an endowment for the cemetery and applying for grants from organizations such as the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago.

"The biggest way to success is establishing a sustainable business plan that will put the cemetery in a good position for decades to come," Linn said. "You don't want to think about the cemetery being without money, especially with so many people having loved ones there."

The cemetery's 2022 tax filings show it generated $77,223 in revenue, down from $88,423 the previous year. After expenses, the cemetery lost $12,387 in 2022 and $27,149 in 2021.

To increase revenue, Linn — who owns nearby Brosh Chapel — said the cemetery is considering offering different burial opportunities, such as a cremation garden, as more Americans have chosen to have their remains cremated instead of buried in recent years.

The National Funeral Directors Association reported that more than half of Americans who died in 2023 were cremated. The association predicts the figure to rise to nearly 80 percent by 2043.

The decline in traditional burials is due to many reasons, including a cultural shift in funeral preferences, as fewer people consider themselves religious today than in the past, and the costs of conducting a funeral. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the median price of a funeral in 2023 was $8,300, compared to the average cost of a direct cremation, which was roughly $2,000.

"Most cemeteries run in the same fashion, meaning that they have to have a draw or a reason for why people should want to come buy spaces and have themselves or family members buried there," Linn said.