The Peace Department

What The Peace Department does

The Peace Department is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2021 by James Sternlicht and operated through The Giving Back Fund (Tax-ID 04-3367888). It functions as a "dot-connector and systems innovator" that convenes cross-sector stakeholders — including community-based organizations, impact investors, academics, faith leaders, artists, and coalition-builders — to advance sustainable development, climate stability, and peacebuilding through place-based, community-driven solutions. The organization is headquartered in New York City with a lean team of 7 employees and a 4-person advisory council spanning King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Gigawatt Global, and the Global Solutions Institute.

Its core programmatic offerings are (1) the PDPX Place-based Accelerator, launched in 2024 with co-development partners Pyxera Global, Metabolic, and Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet, which provides free participation, network access, and catalytic capital to selected US-based community organizations; (2) the annual Climate & Conflict Convening series, hosted at Foundation House since 2022 during NY Climate Week; (3) the Together for Peace global Earth Day campaign, which scaled from 5 to 14 countries between 2023 and 2024 with 20+ partner organizations; and (4) interfaith initiatives including the Faith in Ukraine Campaign (400 million viewers, 542 print placements) and the Climate Repentance Ceremony at COP27 co-developed with the Elijah Interfaith Institute. The Peace Department has no proprietary technology platform; its distribution advantage comes from partner network amplification and high-visibility third-party venues.

The organization does not operate a commercial business model. Funding flows through tax-deductible donations via Give Lively, grants, and catalytic capital deployed to place-based projects (cumulative $4.75M reported catalyzed, with 40,000+ people reached). The Peace Department does not accept unsolicited grant applications and does not charge participants in the PDPX cohort. Sustained operations depend on continued donations through The Giving Back Fund and on maintaining the cross-sector network that enables convening at scale.

Name

The Peace Department

Legal name

The Peace Department

Website

https://peacedepartment.global

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Peace Department is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2021 that convenes cross-sector stakeholders to advance place-based sustainable development, climate stability, and peacebuilding through its PDPX Accelerator, Climate & Conflict Convenings, and Together for Peace campaigns across 14 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution & Stabilization (BPAGABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Sustainable development consulting
• Community development programs
• Climate resilience initiatives
• Place-based projects
• Interfaith peacebuilding

Headquarters

HQ city

Not explicitly stated

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Catalytic Capital & Grants: The Peace Department provides catalytic capital for discrete place-based projects as an outgrowth of relationships with community partners. They do not accept unsolicited grant applications and are not a grantmaking organization in the traditional sense.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations through The Giving Back Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization with Tax-ID #04-3367888.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Peace Department is a nonprofit dot-connector and systems innovator that convenes diverse stakeholders across business, impact investing, public policy, science, government, faith, and philanthropy to advance place-based, community-driven sustainable development solutions. It operates programs including the PDPX Place-based Accelerator for U.S. grassroots organizations, the annual Climate & Conflict Convening series, the Together for Peace global Earth Day campaign, and provides catalytic capital for discrete projects. It does not sell products or services in a traditional commercial sense; participation in its accelerator program is free-of-charge for selected community groups.

Product overview

The Peace Department is a non-profit dot-connector and systems innovator focused on sustainable development and peacebuilding. The organization operates as a unified program rather than a technology product company. Its primary offerings include the PDPX Accelerator (a place-based accelerator program for U.S. grassroots organizations), the Climate & Conflict Convening (annual event series), Together for Peace (global Earth Day campaign), the Place-based Transition Funds Playbook (a publication on climate finance methodology), and various faith-based and community initiatives including the Climate Repentance Ceremony and Solar for Bedouin Schools. The organization also publishes the monthly SDG Pulse Newsletter. These programs work together to connect diverse stakeholders across sectors to advance resilience, climate stability, and peace through community-driven solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PDPX Accelerator: The Peace Department's Place-based Accelerator program that harnesses cross-sector collaboration to strengthen U.S.-based grassroots organizations advancing resilience, opportunity, and climate stability in their communities. Developed in partnership with Pyxera Global, Metabolic, and Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet.
• Climate & Conflict Convening
• Together for Peace

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ people supported in underserved communities across 14 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Foundation HousecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Host venue partner for annual Climate & Conflict Convening series. Foundation House co-hosts the events and provides facilities in Greenwich, CT for expert discussions on climate-conflict nexus.
• Elijah Interfaith InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Long-term partner for interfaith climate initiatives including the Climate Repentance Ceremony at COP27, Parliament of the World's Religions, and Faith in Ukraine Campaign. Created the '10 Spiritual Principles for Climate Repentance' with 50+ religious leaders.
• Gigawatt GlobalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner for Solar for Bedouin Schools project in Negev, Israel. Gigawatt Global provides solar energy expertise for the pilot project serving 120 preschool students in El'rara village.
• Pyxera GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDPX Accelerator development partner. Pyxera Global collaborates with The Peace Department on the Place-based Accelerator (PDPX), providing expertise in program design and implementation for US-based community organizations advancing resilience and climate stability.
• MetaboliccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDPX Accelerator development partner. Metabolic provides systems thinking and sustainable development expertise for the Place-based Transition Funds Playbook and PDPX program design, helping to accelerate decarbonization through place-based approaches.
• Global Alliance for a Sustainable PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDPX Accelerator development partner collaborating on cross-sector coordination for place-based sustainability solutions.
• Blue Planet AlliancesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Peace Department is an official member of Blue Planet Alliance, a coalition dedicated to advocating for islands and countries around the world for climate action.
• Open Earth FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Place-based Transition Funds Playbook and Place-Based Transition Fund Salon during Climate Week. Partner in Carbon Residency project (September 2023 - April 2024).
• Dark Matter LabssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presented at Place-Based Transition Fund Salon during Climate Week NYC 2024. Collaborates on place-based finance innovation and systemic change initiatives.
• Global Solutions InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory council member Mark Grobmyer leads Global Solutions Institute. Partner on Cuba and US food trade solutions and Climate & Conflict panel discussions on cross-border economic resilience.
• Circular Supply Chain CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner for supply chain sustainability and circular economy initiatives.
• Circular City CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner for circular city and urban sustainability initiatives.
• Bio Planning InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for biomimetic urban planning and innovative design approaches in place-based projects.
• Oceanic GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for ocean conservation and marine sustainability initiatives in Earth Day activations.
• Earthday.orgsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner for Earth Day 2024 Together for Peace campaign, enabling global Earth Day-centered climate action activations.
• ALMEP (Alliance of Middle East Peacebuilders)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner for peacebuilding and sustainable development in the Middle East region.
• Supernature LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for innovative nature-based and bio-inspired design solutions in place-based projects.
• Latino Pastoral Action CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for faith-based climate initiatives and community engagement in Latino communities.
• United RefugeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner for refugee support and displacement-related sustainability initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Climate Reality Project: Climate-focused movement and convening organization training leaders and mobilizing action. Comparable in mobilizing cross-sector coalitions for climate and convening high-profile events.
• Peace Direct: International peacebuilding nonprofit that funds and connects local peacebuilders worldwide. Closely comparable mission to The Peace Department's peacebuilding and community-driven approach.
• Search for Common Ground: One of the world's largest dedicated peacebuilding NGOs, working to transform conflict through locally driven solutions. Comparable mission and convening-style operating model.
• Earthday.org: Official Earth Day network and direct partner of The Peace Department on the Together for Peace campaign. Highly comparable in convening global environmental activations.
• Institute for Economics and Peace: Research-driven think tank producing the Global Peace Index and convening leaders on peace and sustainable development. Highly comparable in mission around measuring and advancing peace.
• Bioneers: Nonprofit media and convening organization focused on breakthrough solutions for Earth's most pressing challenges. Comparable in convening model and focus on systems innovation around sustainability.
• Elijah Interfaith Institute: Long-term partner of The Peace Department on interfaith climate initiatives including the Climate Repentance Ceremony. Comparable convening role in interfaith climate action.
• Blue Planet Alliance: Coalition advocating for islands and countries on climate action, of which The Peace Department is an official member. Directly comparable coalition-based advocacy model.

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka: Global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs and changemakers. Comparable in identifying, convening, and amplifying social impact innovators across sectors and geographies.
• Climate Action Network: Worldwide network of over 1,800 civil society organizations working on climate change. Comparable as a network coordinator aligning diverse stakeholders for climate action.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTnn8sOaXWaJPsFvG9rk7fA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-peace-department
• Instagraminstagram.com/thepeacedept

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Peace Department