The World Bank and IUCN secured the initial core financial resources for the Commission to be created and to implement its work program. The IUCN provided the administrative support system to facilitate the work of the Commission and the Secretariat. To ensure the independence of the Commission, the IUCN and the World Bank maintained their roles as initiators, but neither institution exerted influence over the work program of the Commission.

An important feature of the Commission was the broad base of its financial contributors. The WCD received financial support or firm pledges from 54 organisations around the world representing public, private and civil society sectors. In terms of the number of organisations, 38% of financial contributors were private sector companies, 24% NGOs and foundations, and 38% public sector institutions (multi-lateral organisations, governments and development co-operation agencies).

In terms of value, governments and development co-operation agencies donated 63% of the funds, while foundations and NGOs (16%), multi-lateral organisations (12%) and private sector companies (9%) contributed the balance. The maximum contribution of any one organisation did not exceed 12% of the total.

Fundraising efforts were focused on two types: general fundraising and associated fundraising related to specific case studies, thematic review reports and stakeholder events. The latter sought to exploit opportunities for cost-sharing for specific activities in the work programme in an untied manner, for example to encourage organisations active in the county of a particular case study to contribute to the case study via their country or central funds. Although allocated to specific activities the financiers all accepted the untied nature of the funds and did not exert programmatic or policy control over the activities.

46 organisations contributed directly to the pool of funds of the Commission in addition to their participation in the WCD process, while 8 organisations provided in-kind financial support. The in-kind contributions ranged from undertaking requested research as a formal input to the Commission's work programme to providing on request logistical support and expertise at no charge to the Commission.

The Commission raised financial contributions to the value of US$ 10,116,716 at the end of March 2001.