Global Impact Cash Grants

The Global Impact Cash Grants by Cisco Systems Foundation support innovative early-stage solutions aimed at addressing significant social problems. Targeting nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, these grants focus on four key sectors: crisis response, education, economic empowerment, and climate regeneration. Eligible organizations must demonstrate alignment with these areas, particularly serving underserved communities. The foundation seeks to leverage technology for impactful solutions, ensuring sustainability and community resilience through strategic investments.

Cisco welcomes applications for Global Impact Cash Grants from social impact partners around the world who share our vision and oer an innovative approach to a critical social challenge.
Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. We're looking for programs that fit within our investment sectors, focus on the underserved, and use technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services.
We accept applications year-round from eligible organizations. A brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI) is used to determine whether your organization will be invited to complete a full application.
Our priority social impact sectors
We focus on investing in innovative, tech-enabled solutions to the challenges and opportunities that matter most to communities in need, prioritizing four social impact sectors:

• Cisco Crisis Response
• Mobilizing to provide essentials to communities in need and those in crisis, including food, housing, secure connectivity, and disaster relief

Education
Supporting students, teachers, and schools by increasing engagement, building skills, promoting subject mastery, and expanding their capacity to thrive
Cisco is committed to inclusive access to digital skills training and supporting those who use technology to educate. Through programs like Cisco Networking Academy and social investments in education, we create new opportunities for individuals to thrive.
Economic Empowerment
Transforming communities through skill development, long-term career opportunities, entrepreneurship, and access to financial products and services
Strategic grants that unlock economic prosperity and growth for individuals and communities.
Climate Resilience
Building an inclusive, regenerative, and resilient climate future through education, regenerative agriculture, conservation, protection, and clean energy solutions.
Cisco and the Cisco Foundation invest in innovations that businesses and communities need to thrive into the future – including those that build resilience to a changing climate and foster energy security.

Eligibility

Organizational RequirementsOrganizations within the United States must be recognized by the IRS as tax exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c)(3), and classified by the IRS as a public charity.Organizations from outside the U.S. must provide information and documents to determine whether the organization is the equivalent of a U.S. public charity.Organizations to be funded must serve an audience greater than 65 percent economically underserved relative to the average standards of the target geography.Organizations and programs must focus on at least one of our social investment areas: crisis response, access to education, or economic empowerment.For education, crisis response, and economic empowerment proposals, we will also consider proposals that address environmental sustainability within the context of that investment area. For example, we would consider funding an economic empowerment program that specifically focuses on creating green jobs.An organization's overhead is not to exceed 25 percent. (Organizations are occasionally exempt from this requirement; however, they must be exceptionally aligned with Cisco's values and criteria, and they must clearly explain and justify their overhead costs. Exemptions to the requirement on overhead expenses are determined on a case-by-case basis.) Cisco Foundation does not tend to make grants to colleges and universities. In the case that such a grant may be made, Cisco Foundation does not support additional institutional overhead rates for colleges and universities.In addition, organizations must adhere to Cisco policies related to non-discrimination, religious proselytizing, non-support of violence and terrorism, advocacy, lobbying, and other political activities and other areas listed in grant giving policies.

Ineligibility

Proposals in the following areas are not eligible for a Global Impact Cash Grant:Miscellaneous exclusions:general operating expenses, other than directly associated with the program itself;individuals;research programs;membership-based activities;programs that promote or serve one culture, race, religion, population group, or political viewpoint - rather than the community at large;religious, political, or sectarian organizations.(Note: A direct service program run by a faith-based organization may be eligible. See our grant giving policies.)Hospitals:Private or public hospitals;hospital foundations;medical centers, research centers, etc. (Programs based in a hospital may be eligible; however, grant funds must go exclusively to direct service in the community, not to general hospital operating expenses.)HealthcarePrograms focused on improving physical or mental healthSchools and scholarships:Private, public, or charter schools;school foundations, booster clubs, and/or fundraising organizations affiliated with a particular school;colleges/universities;scholarships, stipends or loans within a program; and/orschool-related activities such as field trips, research programs, etc.Sustaining existing programs, interventions, or solutions.Geographic replication through sponsorships.Purchasing 3rd party technology solutions, including, but not limited to, learning management, customer relationship management, or collaboration technologies.Paying on-going operational expenses for teachers/administrators/aids salaries, purchasing supplies, paying student tuition, funding scholarship programs, purchasing equipment (i.e. hardware and/or software), or recurring utilities.Events:athletic events, competitions, tournaments;conferences, seminars, workshops;festivals, field trips, or other recreational events;fundraising events or sponsorships (benefit dinners, walks/runs, concerts, sports teams, etc.).Philanthropic:capital building funds, challenge grants, grant-making organizations (all other foundations including private foundations, family foundations, school foundations, etc.).In general, Cisco does not fund the purchase of computer hardware or software, but may consider doing so only in cases where: such resources are leveraged in a strategically innovative manner, thereby extending their impact well beyond everyday/staff use; ANDsuch resources are not available through other, more cost-effective means such as in-kind donation. Applicants must demonstrate that they have thoroughly explored such avenues without success.