Representatives from the Humanitarian Innovation Fund, IOM, OCHA, Save the Children, UNHCR, UNICEF, USAID, the World Bank, and the World Food Program made up the original HXL Working Group. The HXL standard is the product of a multi-organization working group, with support from the members of a community mailing list.

Since 2018, representatives from the following organizations have participated in the HXL Working group: UNOCHA, British Red Cross, INSO, UK DFID, IFRC, IOM, UNHCR, British Red Cross, IDMC, and the World Bank. The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Education Above All Foundation kindly provide ongoing funding to support HXL standards development.