Our Strategy - Goals & Priorities
Long Term Goals
To fulfill its mission and vision, the Society will pursue four key long-term goals. These goals focus on fostering sustainable growth within the research community and enhancing the support and interconnectedness of researchers in the field. All goals are to better the science in pursuit of solutions to firearm-related harms.
Strong and Sustainable Society- Establish a national research society that is well-positioned to continue supporting and amplifying the field and advancing its science over the long term.
Scientifically rigorous and accessible research - Enhance the credibility and accessibility of firearm-related harms prevention research by continuing to expand and strengthen our knowledge and evidence base, promoting research funding investments needed to support this critical work, and positioning these findings to effectively and urgently inform specific actions and policies aimed at reducing firearm violence.
Connected field of researchers - Foster a collaborative research field by building and promoting transdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and interdisciplinary scientific work.
Diverse and growing field of researchers - Support pathways to entry and advancement to the field for researchers, with a particular focus on researchers from communities and populations affected by firearm-related harms and researchers from underrepresented and historically marginalized populations. This diversity actively serves to advance better and higher quality research in pursuit of the Society’s goals.
5-Year Priorities
The Society is in its formative years and endeavors to formalize its status as an independent 501(c)(3). To build a sustainable foundation, the strategic plan for the next five years is divided into two phases.
Phase One will focus on leveraging recent fundraising successes to establish robust revenue strategies and staffing infrastructure, ensuring the Society can effectively support the field. Phase Two will build on this foundation by driving growth, enhancing support for researchers, and further strengthening the field.
The graphic below shows the connection between the long-term goals and the 5-year strategies. For more details, see the sections below.
Phase One Strategic Priorities- Year 1-2
Build a Strong Organizational Infrastructure
Develop the essential mechanisms to effectively operate the research society, including staffing, membership structures, and a comprehensive financial plan.
Activities:
Formalize 501(c)(3) to secure nonprofit status.
Establish a mechanism for active membership participation in the Society.
Create a sustainability plan for raising the income needed to support the Society.
Establish an appropriate staffing structure to support organizational operations and growth.
Grow Annual Conference: The Society’s conference has seen extraordinary growth over the last 3 years in the amount of science submitted, institutions and disciplines represented, and the diversity of its researchers. The Society will continue to sustain and grow the annual scientific professional conference that highlights rigorous peer-reviewed scientific research and evidence-based practice.
Activities:
Expand the reach and diversity of the conference by increasing the number, types, and geographic representation of institutions that submit research to our annual conference.
Increase opportunities for students and trainees to attend the conference by expanding the number of travel awards made available each year to presenters.
Increase diversity among annual conference scientific reviewers and Society committees
Establish best practices for collaboration and highlight these collaborations via the science shared at the Society’s annual conference.
Phase Two Strategic Priorities- Year 3-5
Establish engagement approach for a diverse and growing field: The Society has a long-term goal of developing a more robust and connected field of researchers across disciplines, particularly for young researchers, those from impacted communities/underrepresented populations, and those from fields that may not always consider their research connected to firearm-related harms prevention. The Society will develop an approach supporting and engaging researchers who identify as part of these populations.
Activities
Establish mechanisms and resources that will attract and retain these researchers to the field.
Promote and encourage funding for both training and research to grow the broader field to attract and retain these researchers.
Enhance Member Communication and Engagement: Establish platforms and opportunities for Society members to engage and collaborate with one another.
Activities:
Expand the Society’s current conference communications to support yearlong communication with membership (if capacity is available, this may start in years 1-2).
Establish additional systems for regular information sharing among Society members including determining the appropriate medium for information sharing and promoting engagement by membership.
Provide networking opportunities beyond the annual conference to facilitate ongoing support and connections throughout the year, including determining a clear cadence and frequency.
Facilitate Research Dissemination: Support the dissemination and translation of research findings to decision-makers beyond academia, ensuring that evidence-based insights effectively inform policy and practice.
Activities:
Clarify the Society’s role in translation and dissemination.
Develop consistent talking points and information for Society leaders and Board Members to bring to existing relationships with policymakers and media.
Develop an infrastructure to support dissemination.
Continue to build relationships with local and national media and policymakers.