The ultimate purpose of the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs is to help ensure that Baltimore has a comprehensive international affairs educational program. Its basic objective is to provide activities to meet the needs of each of its audiences. Among its more specific objectives are:

1. providing for the discussion of current international affairs issues among attentive citizens and the internationally oriented professional community
2. increasing community participation in international affairs
3. increasing the number of community members seriously interested in international affairs
4. raising the general level of community education vis-a-vis international affairs
5. providing a meeting ground for Baltimore and national leaders, especially on international issues critical to the region
6. ensuring the regular presence of American and foreign leaders and respected commentators in Baltimore
7. improving information for local decision making
8. fostering policy analysis of key local issues
9. enhancing the quality of present and future Baltimore leadership
10. invigorating the community's internationalist environment
11. improving the functioning of the community by identifying its international education needs and providing a complete and coordinated response to those needs
12. institutionalizing a comprehensive international affairs program that contributes to and demonstrates the vitality of a resurgent intellectually alive Baltimore; and that is aware of its national and international roles.