Application CFVPI-0004: Reducing Gun Violence in Maryland Through Prevention, Assessment, Intervention, and Response

The Maryland Department of Health, Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention, is requesting applications for grants to implement firearm violence prevention projects and programs using a public health approach to reduce homicide, suicide, and other forms of firearm violence in Maryland, with applications due February 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, local government agencies, state agencies, public colleges, or universities. Applicants must select one of three pillars: Prevention & Assessment (including protective order firearm surrender, safe storage programs, violence reduction plans, and lethal means safety counseling); Intervention & Response (including community violence interruption, group violence intervention, cognitive behavioral approaches, hospital violence intervention, and crisis intervention teams); or Community Resilience and Healing (direct victim and survivor services). Organizations may propose new projects or continue and expand existing initiatives using identical scoring criteria. Only one award per organization can be funded.

The total funding available is approximately $1,000,000 distributed across 5 to 8 awards, with individual awards up to $200,000 per pillar and 1 to 3 awards per pillar. The grant period runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Allowable costs include personnel, fringe benefits, consultants, travel, contractual services, supplies, operating costs, and indirect costs capped at 15 percent. Unallowable expenses include alcoholic beverages, bonuses, construction or capital expenses, lobbying, and promotional items.

Applications must include a data-driven needs justification (600 words), detailed project description with goals and objectives (500 words), organizational capacity documentation (500 words), staffing information (600 words), a work plan with specific metrics and deliverables, and a detailed budget narrative. Applicants must provide at least one letter of organizational support, IRS nonprofit designation letters if applicable, and proof of commercial general liability, errors and omissions, and workers' compensation insurance within five business days of award. All funding is contingent on final approval of the Center's FY 2027 budget by the Maryland General Assembly. An informational webinar is scheduled for January 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (optional EventBrite registration via Amendment 1). Questions are due February 6, 2026. Quarterly invoices with progress reports are due October 31, 2026, January 30, 2027, April 30, 2027, and July 31, 2027.