Mission
The Mission of the GPD Charitable Trust can best be described by a “fourth sector” approach that is driven by actions dedicated to combining attributes of traditional ecosystems of for-profit businesses, NGOs, and for-benefit enterprises whose primary purpose is delivering social and economic benefit.
Through a variety of collaborative initiatives among businesses, civil society, governments, multilaterals, philanthropists, academia, ecosystem builders, and industry and sector leaders, the GPD Charitable Trust will continue it’s ten+ year history of promoting democracy and embolden healthy debate and thought leadership both in the U.S. and around the world.
Approach
We provide short and long-term funding opportunities with like-minded institutions, initiatives, and individuals; and work closely with them to ensure long-term growth and success. By fostering collaboration among grantees, we're working to build partnerships that lead to a more peaceful, prosperous, and stable world.
Who We Are
John P. DeBlasio
John DeBlasio is a recognized philanthropist and entrepreneur who is committed to generating and sustaining growth and development on an international scale. He developed this core belief through his service in the military, where his commitment to public service took shape. In 2011, he took the Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge, subsequently dedicating more than half (~85%) of his net worth to charitable causes.
John currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Illinois Joining Forces Foundation, the Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University, the Social Science Foundation (Korbel School of International Affairs at Denver University), Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos International (NPHI), The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, and MVP Vets.
The GPD Charitable Trust was founded, created, and supported several organizations through ongoing major grants. Through GPD, John has demonstrated his commitment not only to the beneficiaries of partnering organizations, but to the organizations themselves. Partnering organizations include The Center for the Study of Civil-Military Operations at The United States Military Academy at West Point, The Center for Middle East Studies at the Denver University - Korbel School of International Studies, The Middle East & North Africa Program at Northwestern University’s Weinberg School of Arts & Sciences, The Leadership Development Program for the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos orphanages in Central and South America, Syria Direct, Illinois Joining Forces Foundation, the Iraq Fellows Program, among others.
In 2019, John saw an opportunity to acquire AECOM’s International Development arm and merge it with Development Transformations and the Global Peace and Development (GPD) Charitable Trust to form ‘DT Global Family.’ This unique ’Family’ structure starts with the GPD Charitable Trust is the principal owner of a for-profit consulting entity, DT Global, which then channels the majority of fees received from contracts back into DT Institute, to support initiatives that test new ideas or expand on donor partner priorities to further the cause of peace and development globally. As the Chairman, John leads this ‘profit for purpose’ initiative alongside DT Global and DT Institutes senior staff and leadership.
GPD Charitable Trust News
Updates on projects, partnership opportunities, impact stories, and all other GPD happenings.