At Accord Network they create a community where Christ-centered organizations, churches, and individuals leverage their combined learning to achieve the best in relief and development.
They help the members reach their full potential by operating in community—sharing knowledge, skills, and support with one another. The members are not limited to their own learning curve—they have ready access to the collective knowledge of 110,000 employees that collectively leverage over $4.4 billion of resources annually.
Resources: Accord Network curates high-quality resources from members for other members
Relationship: Accord Network learns from each other
Four decades ago, the president of Food for the Hungry responded to disasters in Guatemala and Bangladesh. But frustratingly, he found himself waiting in line at foreign ministry offices. It was suggested that the Christian organizations would be stronger if they worked together.
He returned to the US resolved to start a community of “like minded organizations” and they first met in 1977 in Wheaton, IL. Twelve agencies came, including MAP, World Vision, World Concern, MAF, and World Relief. They wanted to reduce the prevailing feeling of competitiveness between them. According to one of the participants, "We wanted to be a fraternity, a place to fellowship, to see each other as colleagues and to profit by getting together.”
And Accord Network was born. They invited additional agencies that were:
Christ-focused
Professionally and fiduciary-responsible
Ministry-focused on relief and development
Their vision was that “all Christian relief and development professionals and agencies base their initiatives on biblical principles and work to re-engage the Church in holistic ministry among the poor and needy.” The network incorporated in 1978 as AERDO (The Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations). In 2010, the membership voted to change the name to Accord Network.
