Citing the “ongoing financial downturn and its effect on its long-term reserve funds,” the American Legacy Foundation announced on Feb. 25 that it is suspending its tobacco-control competitive grantmaking program, which will be completely phased out in 2012 once current grant commitments expire.

Legacy’s funding will be shifted to “population-based strategies for maximum impact of the more limited dollars spent,” according to a statement from foundation president and CEO Cheryl G. Healton.

“This is a sad day for our foundation, as it forces us to end a program that has meant a great deal to us and to the field,” said Healton. “Our grants programs have made remarkable contributions and progress in youth smoking prevention and adult smoking cessation on the ground in communities all across the nation.”

The foundation was created and funded through the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement and has funded the “truth” antismoking campaign and other public-health approaches to reducing tobacco consumption.