2026 Mark C. McDonald Award

Celebrating 50 years, Historic Oakland Foundation, founded in 1976 as the “Friends” group for Oakland Cemetery, is a nonprofit that partners with the City of Atlanta to preserve, restore, enhance, and share one of the city’s most important historic landscapes. Stewarding 48 acres and welcoming more than 125,000 visitors each year, the organization has transformed Oakland Cemetery into a place of remembrance, education, art, and community life.  

Historic Oakland Foundation balances thoughtful preservation of historic fabric with a wide range of educational, cultural, and artistic programming that engages diverse audiences. Recent preservation projects include the restoration of the 1908 Women’s Comfort Station, rehabilitation of the Bell Tower building, construction of an accessible visitor’s center, and broader accessibility improvements throughout the site. Looking ahead, the Foundation is leading the planned restoration of the iconic Main Gate and Original Six Acres, along with construction of a columbarium to support Oakland’s continuing role as an active cemetery. Through sustained stewardship, public partnership, and vision, Historic Oakland Foundation continues to demonstrate excellence in organizational leadership and preservation practice. 

The Mark C. McDonald Award recognizes an outstanding organization that has demonstrated sustained commitment to historic preservation and has had a positive impact on preservation in their local community.