[2] Among the 145 founding members of the guild were Benjamin Dwight Allen, John W. Bischoff, Dudley Buck, George Whitefield Chadwick, Kate Sara Chittenden, Charles Whitney Coombs, Gaston Dethier, Clarence Dickinson, Clarence Eddy, Mary Chappell Fisher,[3] Arthur Foote, William Gilchrist, Henry Houseley[4] Henry Holden Huss, Bruno Klein, Ernst R. Kroeger, Benjamin Johnson Lang, Peter C. Lutkin, Charlotte Wells Saenger,[3] Fannie Morris Spencer, Samuel Prowse Warren (also served as President of the AGO in 1902),[5] and Herve D. Wilkins.

The AGO has chapters in Australia (Sydney), Barbados, Hong Kong, Kenya (Nairobi), Finland (Helsinki), Singapore, Shanghai, and Taiwan.

The national officers of the guild consist of a president, a vice president/councillor of competitions and new music, a secretary/councillor for communications, and a treasurer/councillor for finance and development.

Appointed district conveners are responsible for the development of the guild's interests in each state or area located within the region.

In 2014, the formerly nine regions were consolidated into seven: Over the years, a number of international chapters have been formed and are grouped into the following AGO regions: These international chapters formally affiliate with the AGO rather than other professional associations that may already exist in their country, such as the Royal Canadian College of Organists or Royal College of Organists (UK).

Eileen Hunt is currently president, elected in 2022 to a two-year term to succeed Michael Bedford (2016–2022).

Other past presidents serving in the 21st century, and their terms in office, include John Walker (organist) (2014–2016), Eileen Guenther (2008–2014) and Frederick Swann (2002–2008).

The 2010 national convention held in Washington, D.C., on July 4–8, for example, included workshops and concerts at prominent Washington-area churches, with premieres of newly commissioned works.

It also produces a series of instructional DVDs for organists, providing insights into advanced playing technique, organ registration, improvisation, and interpretation.

Now titled The American Organist, the monthly magazine is the official journal of the AGO for members and non-member subscribers.

Its masthead proclaims the journal's goal, to further the AGO's "ideals, objectives, and cultural and educational aspirations".