Asset Declines and Investment Strategy Changes by Family, Independent, and Public Foundations

February 2, 2009, Arlington, Va. — Survey results just released by the Council on Foundations at the Family Philanthropy Conference in Indianapolis showed that family, independent, and public foundations experienced a 28 percent decline in their asset values over the course of 2008. Many foundations have not made major changes to their investment strategies, but a substantial proportion are making changes in their investment managers, their diversification, and aggressiveness of their investment strategies.