IDEAS is governed by a 10-member Board, including a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

All members of the Board are members of IDEAS, elected by the rest of members for a term of three years with due regard for balanced gender and developed/developing country representation.

The IDEAS Constitution provides for annual routine rotation in order to avoid a simultaneous expiry of tenure of all board members; this ensures continuity in policy-making.

Financial contributions to IDEAS derive from two principal sources: the membership base, including annual, three-year, life and institutional memberships; and grants from development partners.