As Mountain Forum is a membership-driven decentralised network, its members are integral to the structure and functioning of the organisation. Members share information by contributing to the Mountain Calendar and the Online Library. They also support one another by participating in at least one email discussion list.

In Africa, Asia and Latin America, members also elect representatives to serve on the Board of Directors once every two to three years. In these elections, members from these regions are eligible to run for office, nominate other members and of course participate in the election as voters. Members elect representatives from the region where they are normally resident.

Through this process, and by interacting through communication platforms (such as discussion lists), members form the core of Mountain Forum and define the direction that the network takes as it evolves.