Though having Origins run by disparate groups each year was working, there was a need for an overarching entity to watch over and manage the convention each year from a high level.  Following the 1980 show, this responsibility was handed to GAMA.  Founded during the 1978 Gen Con by exhibitors that felt they were unfairly treated at the show by TSR, GAMA was created to allow all game manufacturers who produce at least one game with a print run of 1,000 units or more a collective voice.  Running a consumer-facing show, like Origins, that was handled by a group meant to represent all game manufacturers, and not just the big ones that could run their own conventions how they wanted like TSR did, made sense.  Though GAMA would not directly organize Origins at this time, the convention was their responsibility beginning with the 1981 show.

Though Origins has been GAMA’s responsibility for over 40 years the convention has only happened thanks to the many groups and volunteers that put in the effort for the gaming community.  It started with Interest Group Baltimore, but many people have put their time and effort in making the show be the best it could be.  GAMA regularly leaned on the expertise of others to manage the convention.  Be that groups like Atlanticon, which was born out of Interest Group Baltimore and hosted the convention multiple times when it was on the east coast, or the group that ran Origins in conjunction with Texcon and Dipcon in Texas in 1984.  Origins only happens thanks to the volunteers who still today in 2025 help out with the show for a few perks like a free badge and maybe a partial hotel room reimbursement stipend.