Each Chair-in-Office prepares a comprehensive budget for the respective Forum, indicating the part it will cover through its own resources and the part for which it will require external funding.

Financial contributions are paid to a fund administered by the Chair-in-Office or through the GFMD Support Unit. The Chair-in-Office, directly or through the GFMD Support Unit, incurs expenditures in accordance with the budget and ensures the efficient management of all funds received, including controlling and auditing.

Over the past years, contributions-in-kind have also been provided by a few governments, international organizations and foundations, such as through secondment of experts, drafting of Roundtable background papers or supplementary papers, and logistical assistance with preparatory activities.

To date, financial contributions to the GFMD process have been made on a voluntary basis. Governments' responses to calls for financial and material contributions have varied from one Chairmanship to another. But the number of governments that have provided financial and in-kind contributions has grown steadily through the years–from only 5 in Brussels to 11 in Manila, 12 in Athens, and 16 in Puerto Vallarta.

In 2011, 12 governments gave financial contributions to help defray the core budget of the Swiss GFMD Chair. Also, some of the GFMD 2011 thematic meetings were supported, financially and in-kind, by other governments, international organizations, civil society organizations and other related entities.

Through the years, one international foundation and 2 international organizations have offered financial assistance to the annual Chairs-in-Office.

The need to improve the funding mechanism of the GFMD process, and promote a wider ownership is now a subject of discussion by the Friends of the Forum.