Accord

The mechanism

How Accord Works

A simple idea with profound implications: your commitment only activates when enough people join. No coordination tax. No collective action failure. Together or not at all.

The process

From idea to activation

01

Someone creates an Accord

A person with a collective goal creates an accord. They write the commitment text, set a threshold (the minimum number of people needed), and give it a deadline. The commitment text is locked — it cannot be changed after launch.

02

People commit conditionally

Participants join by submitting their name, email, and committing to the accord text. Their commitment is recorded but marked dormant. It costs nothing to commit and creates no obligation — yet.

03

The threshold fires — or expires

If enough verified commitments accumulate before the deadline, the threshold fires. All commitments activate simultaneously at that instant. Every participant is notified. If the threshold isn't reached, all commitments expire automatically.

04

Everyone acts together

With the threshold reached, participants act knowing they're not alone. Optional features like reaffirmation check-ins, accountability buddies, and community pulse feeds help the group follow through.

The problem we solve

The Coordination Problem

Why people fail to act together — even when everyone wants to.

“I would quit social media if enough parents did too. But I'm not going first.”

— Every parent who hasn't quit social media

The Sucker Problem

If you act alone while others don't, you bear the full cost but get none of the collective benefit. Rational individuals wait for others, and nothing happens.

The Visibility Problem

People don't know how many others share their desire to act. The preference exists but is invisible — so no one takes the first step.

The Commitment Problem

Even when people agree to act together, there's no mechanism to make commitments credible. Promises are made and broken individually.

Accord solves all three. The threshold makes your commitment conditional — you only act if enough others do too. This eliminates the sucker problem. The public commitment count makes preferences visible. The simultaneous activation makes commitments credible.

Applications

Use Cases

Accord works wherever collective action is blocked by coordination failure.

Education
Parent & School Pacts
  • Restricting social media for children under 14
  • Collective screen-time limits across a school district
  • Parent volunteer commitments for school programs
Environment
Sustainability Pledges
  • Green commute pledges for offices and campuses
  • Neighborhood solar co-op formation
  • Single-use plastic bans for local businesses
Workplace
Labor & Workplace
  • Four-day work week proposals to management
  • Collective salary transparency agreements
  • Return-to-office policy negotiation
Community
Neighborhood & Civic
  • Neighborhood safety or improvement funds
  • Local business boycotts or support campaigns
  • Civic petition thresholds for city council action
Health
Health & Wellness
  • Group fitness challenges with accountability
  • Collective Dry January or habit-breaking pacts
  • Community mental health check-in commitments
Consumer
Consumer & Purchasing
  • Group purchasing for better rates (solar, insurance)
  • Collective brand boycotts with real numbers
  • Switching campaigns (banks, providers, platforms)

Common Questions

Is Accord free to use?
Yes. Creating and joining accords is completely free. Optional features like financial deposits involve Stripe payment processing fees, but the platform itself charges nothing.
What happens to my data if an accord expires?
Commitment records are retained for 12 months after expiration, then deleted. You can request earlier deletion at any time.
Can a creator change the commitment after launch?
No. The commitment text is locked at launch and cannot be changed. This is by design — it's what makes the commitment credible to participants.
What if someone commits but doesn't follow through?
Accord is a coordination tool, not an enforcement body. The moral and social pressure of having publicly committed — alongside a group — is the primary accountability mechanism. Optional reaffirmation check-ins, accountability buddies, and financial deposits provide additional structure.
Can I create a private accord?
All accords are currently publicly listed. You can share the link with a specific community, but the accord will appear on the browse page.
How does email verification work?
When you commit to an accord with email verification enabled, you receive a confirmation email with a unique link. Your commitment is only counted once you click that link. This ensures one real person per commitment.

Ready to solve your coordination problem?

Free to create. No account required. Takes 3 minutes.

Start an Accord →Browse Accords