Change the arc of history.
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 around the world in addition to the United States.
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 P. DeBlasio is the Chairman of DT Global and DT Institute, and the Founder and Executive Director of the Global Peace and Development (GPD) Charitable Trust, and the Managing Director of Bootstrap Capital.
John is currently serving 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.
Education, Service, and International Experience
John is a 1989 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served 21 years in active and reserve service before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves Civil Affairs branch in 2011. He also holds degrees from the University of South Carolina Master of International Business Studies program and completed studies at the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth.
Throughout his career, John has lived for extended periods of time in Europe, the Republic of Korea and the Middle East (Iraq/Jordan). John is a recipient of the Bronze Star as well as the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
Business and Corporate Leadership
John started his business career in the General Electric Co. (GE) Leadership Development Program in 1994 and subsequently worked in a variety of management positions in GE’s Medical, Plastics, and Capital Divisions. After returning from active duty in 2004, John co-founded Sallyport Global Services and built what would become the largest provider of security and facilities management services to USAID prime contractors operating in Iraq, as well as a primary contractor for the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State (DoS), NASA, The World Bank and Foreign Ministries, the UN, and a number of private clients.
During his tenure, John grew the Sallyport Global Services from one employee to more than 1,900 employees worldwide with annual revenues of over $200M and established it’s reputation as one of the most trusted security and mission support service providers globally. John established Bootstrap Capital in 2012 to serve as private equity firm that provides partnership opportunities for small/medium sized growth and family businesses. Currently, Bootstrap holds multiple debt & equity investments in a variety of manufacturing automation, real-estate and other businesses.
John is currently is a corporate/advisory board member of ValAr Frontier, Pax Mondial, and Verilogic Solutions.
DT Global, DT Institute, and the GPD Charitable Trust
In 2011, John successfully sold Sallyport to D.C. Capital Partners and took the “Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge '' subsequently dedicating more than half (~85%) of his net-worth to charitable causes. Since inception, the Global Peace and Development (GPD) Charitable Trust has committed over $15 million in charitable contributions to over 23 organizations globally, with the primary goal of creating more opportunity for others to promote peace and democracy worldwide.
GPD provides support to a wide range of organizations through ongoing major grants. 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 Pequenos Hermanos orphanages in Central and South America; Syria Direct; Illinois Joining Forces Foundation; the Iraq Fellows Program, among others.
In 2019, and after the successful merger of Development Transformations and the international development arm of AECOM, Join became the Chairman of the DT Global “family” which consists of DT Global, it’s academic arm DT Institute, and GPD Charitable Trust.
DT Global, built on more than 50 years of experience from AECOM International Development, Development Transformations, and the Global Peace and Development (GPD) Charitable Trust, applies ingenuity, evidence, and passion. Grounded in decades of technical expertise and leadership around the world,the DT Global family incorporates rigorous learning and assessment in program design and process to ensure that they remain on the cutting edge of thought leadership.
Personal Life
John is a Pittsburgh, PA native and lives with his finance, Heather, in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago, IL. He is the proud father of Sarah (26) and Jack (21).
GPD Charitable Trust News
Updates on projects, partnership opportunities, impact stories, and all other GPD happenings.