While most foundations plan to decrease their giving in 2009, many are responding to the recession by providing grants to help poor families and others hit hard by the tough economic times, according to a new survey.

The Council on Foundations surveyed 430 foundations in March and found that 62 percent expect to reduce their grant making this year. Almost half of the respondents said they will decrease their giving budgets by more than 10 percent.

In response to the economic downturn, most foundations — 92 percent — are focusing on assisting low-income people, the unemployed, and others. Of that group, 31 percent said they are increasing support for so-called basic needs — fighting hunger, providing emergency shelter, paying utility bills, and creating jobs — and 6 percent said they have started to support such causes for the first time.

The council also said that 60 percent of foundations reported that they are trimming their operating budgets for 2009. For example, 45 percent aren’t providing salary increases to their staff members this year, 27 percent have frozen hiring, 16 percent have eliminated unfilled job positions, and 6 percent laid off employees.

The report is available on the council’s Web site.

For more information about how foundations are responding, see results from The Chronicle’s annual foundation survey.

— Ian Wilhelm