The 4A's Board of Directors is composed of chief executives from member agencies of all sizes and meets three times per year. In the intervening months, the work of the association is directed by the Operations Committee, composed of the board chairman, vice chairman, secretary-treasurer, 4A's president and directors-at-large.

There are four region boards based in the eastern, central, southern and western regions of the US that are responsible for overseeing the activities of local council boards.

There are four board committees (including the 4A's Board of Directors) and numerous non-board committees and subcommittees representing all of the major functions of an advertising agency. Most committees meet approximately four times per year.