Philanthropy has the power to do more than respond to urgent needs, it can help prevent harm before it happens. For Gary and Janeen Nissen, fundholders with Calgary Foundation, giving is a way to support meaningful, long-term change in their community. Their commitment to preventing domestic violence led them to support “Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence” through the Gary Nissen Fund. Shift is a research-based initiative that turns evidence into action, focusing on systemic solutions that stop violence before it starts.
“When Shift came around,” Janeen shares on Gary’s behalf, “it felt like a natural evolution. Gary’s taking what he learned at the community level with other organizations he’s been involved with and scaling it – it’s research, policy, and system-level change.”
Led by Dr. Lana Wells, Shift works to change the systems and structures that allow violence to happen. It’s grounded in evidence, driven by empathy, and focused on long-term impact.
For the Nissens, real change means tackling the root causes of violence by helping people unlearn harmful behaviours, take responsibility, and build healthier relationships. That’s where Shift comes in: identifying patterns and breaking down the norms and inequalities that fuel violence.
In 2024, Shift released innovative new research in collaboration with the University of Calgary School of Public Policy, Calgary Police Service, and FearIsNotLove. It looked at 10 years of police data and found that 73% of men charged with domestic violence were already known to police, with many showing a clear pattern of escalating behaviour. The takeaway? Early intervention can help stop violence before it starts.
“Collaboration leads to amazing data, and data is critical,” Janeen shares. “It captures these stories in measurable ways and turns them into strategy, making the invisible visible.”
One of the most meaningful outcomes for the Nissens has been Shift’s influence on Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence. By bridging the gap between research and policy, Shift helps ensure that decisions are informed by evidence and designed for impact.
“What we love about Shift is that it turns research into action,” Janeen says. “It doesn’t just study violence. It equips communities, policymakers, and practitioners with the tools they need to drive prevention. It’s really about empathy driving long-term change.”
Their involvement with Shift has also reshaped how they think about philanthropy. For Gary and Janeen, strategic giving means supporting both immediate needs and long-term transformation.
“Deep change takes time,” Janeen explains. “Violence is generational, so our investment needs to be, too. Our approach is to support both. Short-term programs save lives. Long-term investments reshape culture.”
Domestic violence touches every part of society: health, housing, justice, education, and more. No single organization can solve it alone. That’s why Gary and Janeen value the connections between organizations working toward the same goal. Their path to supporting Shift started with Calgary Foundation, which connected them to the Faculty of Social Work and helped them stay close to the work happening in the wider community. These connections have helped them see the broader impact that’s possible when people and organizations come together.
“Our goal has always been to create a future where fewer people reach a crisis point,” Janeen says. “To do that, the approach has to be collaborative, evidence based, and systemic. It’s about building a whole prevention ecosystem.”