The economic downturn appears to have hurt this year’s annual meeting of the Council on Foundations, with attendance lower than what it has been in previous years.

About 1,200 nonprofit officials have come here to Atlanta for the meeting, while about 1,900 attended the event in 2007. Last year, the council held a meeting near Washington, which combined all of its yearly meetings into one. More than 3,000 people attended that conference.

The council expected less people in Atlanta in part because of its big event last year. But the economy is also having an effect as foundations cut their travel costs to save money.

During a speech at the start of the conference, Steve Gunderson, the council’s chief executive, said that given the economic concerns the number of people at the event is “incredible.”

He said several conference goers have traveled to Atlanta on their own dime and he thanked them for their “personal financial sacrifice.”