The NHDC is made of 31+ partners, including non-profit organizations, academic and government institutions, faith-based organizations, advocacy organizations, and more; and is led by a group of volunteers with varied experience in policy, research, health care, and education. The NHDC believes in balanced power, and its bylaws require an academic and non-academic shared leadership model (chair and co-chair). It also practices a form of radical democracy: the entire NHDC body collaborates on a strategic plan that directs the work of the organizations.