Each member organization has one vote. Associate members do not have a vote but are entitled to select a representative to serve on the board as an ex officio member. The Coalition is governed by a board of directors. The initial board was appointed by Ralph Langer, executive editor of The Dallas Morning News at the time, who was designated as first chairman by a vote of the membership at the founding congress in Washington in January, 1992. That interim group of directors served until a board was formally elected at the first annual meeting on April 14, 1993.
Board members serve three-year terms.
The board designates its chairman, who serves for two years and may be reelected for one term. The board meets at least twice a year, one of those times being in conjunction with the coalition's annual meeting.