Outward Bound International is the umbrella service organization for Outward Bound Schools worldwide. A Council with representatives from each licensed member school governs Outward Bound International.

The Council has two classes of membership:

1. Ordinary Members who are representatives of Licensed or Chartered Centers and entitled to vote at annual general meetings.
2. Associate Members who represent Provisional Licensed Centers and can participate in every respect, but are not entitled to vote.

The Council appoints a 14-person Board of Directors. Additionally the Executive Director is an ex-officio member to conduct most of the business of OBI. The Board aims to have:

1. Four members from Europe and Africa
2. Four members from Asia and the Pacific
3. Four members from the Americas
4. Two members at large
5. The Executive Director (ex-officio)

The Board Members pay their own expenses of meeting at least twice a year and participate in fund raising to meet the expenses of OBI. Nominations for Board membership are invited prior to each AGM.

Outward Bound International currently has an executive director and various consultant staff in risk management, business development, Trademark law, newsletter and website.

The Outward Bound Trust UK is the founding organization and owns the Outward Bound trade mark for which new licenses are issued.

The internal vision of Outward Bound International is:
To enhance the safety and quality of Outward Bound educational services worldwide and to protect the Outward Bound name.

OBI's strategies to achieve this mission are:

• By ensuring that Safety and Quality Standards are met in all Outward Bound centers.
• By providing protection of the Outward Bound trademark and reputation.
• By helping Outward Bound centers to be successful.
• By improving collaboration between Outward Bound centers.
• By establishing adequate, ongoing funding for OBI