Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) Research Grant 2025

Eligibility

Applicants must be located in Alberta and represent one of the following: a student, researcher, or professor stationed at a recognized Alberta Post-Secondary Institution. 

Summary

The Alberta Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services (PSES) is launching a Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) research grant for purposes of advancing knowledge of gun and gang violence in Alberta.

Funding from up to $75,000 per fiscal year (2025/2026 to 2027/28) is available for new gun and gang research projects, and up to three for eligible longer-term projects.

Successful research proposals must meet at least one of the following objectives:

• Enhance efforts to prevent gun and gang violence;
• Disrupt and combat gun and gang violence; and/or
• Increase awareness and understanding of issues related to gun and gang violence.

Moreover, the following topics will be prioritized for funding:

• Gang prevention and gang exit;
• Reasons for joining a gang;
• Gang membership, activities, and values; and
• Gang dynamics and demographics.

Program Resources:
Research Application 
GGVAF Grant Criteria
Policies and Procedures
Program Contact: GOA.PSES-SSIIResearchUnit@gov.ab.ca
 

Overhead

N/A. Indirect costs are not considered an eligible expense as per the grant criteria guidelines. 

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

This competition will be part of the Research Management System (RMS), and approvals will be obtained electronically. Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) forms are not required for faculty applicants, approvals are collected electronically in RMS. Postdoc applicants must submit an RFAA and the full application to haley.leavitt@ucalgary.ca. 

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Full Application 

The Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Application record, must be submitted to RSO by August 12, 2025, at 12:00 pm. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. 

Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once this institutional approval has been obtained, the Principal Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application via email to goa.pses-ssiiresearchunit@gov.ab.ca by August 15, 2025. 

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

RESOURCES  

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be! 

Contact the following Research Service units for support with: 

Projects Involving Indigenous Research: 

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). 

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage. 

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:  
Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.  

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.  
For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage. 

Research Data Management: 

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.    

EDI in Research: 

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.  

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information. 

Research Security: 

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). 

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.  

Pre-Award Submissions: 

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application