Proposals are submitted by prominent research scientists and are subject to review and approval by the Scientific Directorate . Program Committee Scientific Directorate comprised of 9 scientists. Directorate members are appointed upon recommendation by the Associates.
Financing is supplemented by donations from various sponsors in industry and the publishing trade.
The portion of operational costs which are not covered by participant fees are funded by the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate state governments. The Schloss Dagstuhl Foundation provides support for young participants. After the French Revolution and occupation by the French in 1794, Dagstuhl was temporarily in the possession of a Lorraine ironworks. In 1806 the manor house along with the accompanying lands was purchased by the French Baron Wilhelm de Lasalle von Louisenthal. In 1989 the Saarland government purchased the manor house for the purpose of setting up the International Conference and Research Center for Computer Science.