← Back to US Funders Directory

Cisco Systems Foundation

Annual Giving
$18.4M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.5M
Decision Time
6mo

Cisco Systems Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18,398,341 (FY2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Up to 3 months per review stage
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $500,000 (first-time recipients capped at $75,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Global (US and international programs)
  • People Impacted: 170+ million in FY24

Contact Details

General Contact:

Application Portal:

  • Global Impact Cash Grants: Online application through Cisco's portal (currently on pause until early 2026)
  • Technology Grant Program: Submit through TGP contact form or TechSoup

Overview

The Cisco Systems Foundation (EIN: 77-0443347), established in 1997, is the philanthropic arm of Cisco Systems, Inc. With approximately $229.8 million in total assets and $18.4 million in annual giving in FY2024, the foundation partners with organizations to create and scale innovative digital solutions that promote a healthy planet and advance the well-being of underserved communities globally. In its FY24 Impact Report—the first comprehensive report in 20 years, independently verified by PwC—the foundation demonstrated impact across 100+ countries, reaching over 170 million people through partnerships with more than 100 nonprofits. More than half of grants support smaller nonprofits (organizations operating on less than $5 million annually), and 97% of partners secured additional funding attributed to Cisco's support. The foundation surpassed its ten-year goal to positively impact one billion people by 2025.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Global Impact Cash Grants

  • Amount: $10,000 - $250,000 (first-time recipients capped at $75,000)
  • Focus: Nonprofits leveraging technology to deliver programs that can be replicated and scaled at country, regional, or global level
  • Application Method: Two-stage process (Letter of Inquiry, then full proposal by invitation only)
  • Status: Currently on pause due to platform transition; reopening expected early 2026

Regional Solution Grants

  • Amount: Varies
  • Focus: Nonprofits leveraging technology to deliver programs within a specific community or country
  • Status: Currently on pause; reopening expected early 2026

India Cash Grant Program

  • Focus: Organizations addressing social challenges in India across critical human needs, education, and economic empowerment
  • Impact: Over 50 million lives positively impacted in India by March 2025
  • Example Partners: Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (Digital Grampreneur Program), Akshaya Patra Foundation (digitizing kitchens)

Technology Grant Program

  • Type: In-kind donations of Cisco networking and communications equipment (not cash)
  • Focus: Climate impact, disaster relief, economic empowerment, and education
  • Application Pathways:
    • Path 1 (Cisco-Managed): For larger/complex requests via TGP contact form
    • Path 2 (TechSoup-Managed): For smaller requests in 20 countries through TechSoup

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four social impact sectors:

1. Crisis Response

  • Mobilizing essentials like food, housing, connectivity, and disaster relief
  • Supporting communities in immediate need

2. Education

  • Student and teacher engagement
  • Skill development and digital literacy
  • School capacity building
  • In FY24: Nearly 6.8 million students demonstrated literacy improvements

3. Economic Empowerment

  • Career development and workforce readiness
  • Entrepreneurship programs
  • Financial access and inclusion
  • In FY24: 20 million people accessed digital financial products

4. Climate Resilience

  • Climate education (135,000 individuals engaged in FY24)
  • Regenerative agriculture and conservation
  • Clean energy solutions
  • $100 million commitment announced in FY21 for Climate Regeneration (grants to nonprofits plus investments in climate companies)

Key Requirements:

  • Target audience must be 65%+ economically underserved
  • Must demonstrate scalability, replicability, and sustainability
  • Strong emphasis on technology integration
  • Overhead cannot exceed 25% (exceptions rare and require justification)
  • Organizations must demonstrate equivalent of US 501(c)(3) charitable status

What They Don't Fund

Ineligible Organizations:

  • Those that discriminate based on protected categories (age, race, religion, gender, disability, veteran status, etc.)
  • Those requiring religious conversion or adherence for services/employment
  • Those endorsing, supporting, or promoting violence or terrorist activity
  • Those engaging in prohibited lobbying or political campaign activities

Ineligible Activities:

  • General operating expenses (specific programs only)
  • Research projects
  • Membership programs
  • Healthcare facilities or hospitals
  • Schools or scholarship programs (direct educational support)
  • Events, competitions, or fundraising activities
  • Capital building projects
  • Grant-making organizations (re-granting)

Governance and Leadership

Foundation Leadership:

  • Charu Adesnik, Executive Director, Cisco Foundation; Director, Social Impact and Innovation
  • Brian Tippens, Board Chairperson; Senior Vice President and Chief Social Impact Officer, Cisco
  • Mary de Wysocki, Chief Sustainability Officer, Cisco
  • Nine additional board members representing various Cisco divisions
  • Peter Tavernise, Subject matter expert in foundation administration and strategic grant making

Leadership Philosophy:

Charu Adesnik on the foundation's approach: "Our India Purpose Office team's extraordinary achievement exemplifies Cisco's strategy for social investment," emphasizing "deep collaboration with local experts, to rigorous measurement of positive impact, to steady emphasis on the unique power of tech-fueled innovation to reach more people in need."

The foundation emphasizes transparency and measurement, having engaged PwC to audit its impact methodology for the FY24 Impact Report. Adesnik has spoken publicly about the foundation's ten-year goal to positively impact one billion people, which was successfully achieved by 2025.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status (Important): Applications for Global Impact Cash Grants (climate, education, crisis response, and economic empowerment) are currently on pause due to platform transition. Submissions are expected to reopen in early 2026.

When Applications Are Open:

Step 1: Eligibility Assessment

  • Review program requirements on Cisco Foundation website
  • Complete eligibility quiz to determine alignment
  • All applications must be submitted through Cisco's online portal (no paper applications accepted)

Step 2: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • Submit initial information form online
  • Cisco reviews for alignment with mission, strategic approach, and grant objectives
  • Timeline: Review may take up to one business quarter (3 months)
  • Submission of LOI does not guarantee invitation to full proposal

Step 3: Full Proposal (Invitation Only)

  • Organizations whose programs align with Cisco's priorities receive invitation with code
  • Submit comprehensive application through online portal
  • Must include board certification: Chairperson or at least one officer must review proposal and confirm board awareness/support
  • Timeline: Decision within approximately one business quarter (3 months)

Key Application Requirements:

  • Use SMART metrics to demonstrate measurable impact
  • Show technology integration in program delivery
  • Demonstrate scalability, replicability, and sustainability potential
  • Prove 65%+ of target audience is economically underserved
  • Keep overhead at or below 25%

Decision Timeline

  • LOI Review: Up to 3 months
  • Full Proposal Review: Approximately 3 months
  • Total Process: 6+ months from initial LOI to final decision

Cisco makes all grant decisions at their sole discretion. Qualification under policies does not entitle an organization to receive a grant.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose application volume or success rates. However, context indicators:

  • In FY24, the foundation worked with 100+ nonprofit partners globally
  • 56% of partners operate on less than $5 million annual budget
  • 81% of partner organizations maintain local staff presence
  • 40% of funded solutions reach more than 1 million people per year

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Contact the foundation directly at ciscofoundation@cisco.com for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and approach:

1. Technology-Enabled Solutions Cisco seeks organizations that leverage technology to amplify impact. The foundation specifically looks for "innovative technology integration" and "Internet and network technology to benefit individuals and communities." Show how technology is central to your program delivery and scaling strategy.

2. Scale and Replicability The foundation prioritizes solutions that can grow beyond initial implementation. In FY24, 40% of funded solutions reached more than 1 million people per year. Demonstrate how your program model can be replicated in other communities, regions, or countries.

3. Measurable Impact with SMART Metrics The foundation emphasizes rigorous measurement—they engaged PwC to audit their impact methodology. Applications must demonstrate measurable outcomes using Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) metrics. Quantify the social challenge you're addressing and the change you'll create.

4. Serving the Economically Underserved At least 65% of your target audience must be economically underserved. Be explicit about who you serve and how you define and verify their underserved status.

5. Sustainability Beyond Grant Period As Charu Adesnik noted, the foundation values "sustainable positive impact." Show how your program will continue after Cisco's funding ends. In FY24, 97% of partners secured additional funding attributed to Cisco's support—demonstrate your fundraising capacity and diverse revenue streams.

6. Strong Organizational Capacity While the foundation supports smaller organizations (56% of partners have budgets under $5 million), they require demonstrated organizational strength. Include evidence of:

  • Local staff presence and community connections (81% of partners maintain local staff)
  • Strong leadership and governance
  • Financial management capacity
  • Evaluation expertise

7. Lean Operations Overhead must not exceed 25% of the grant amount. Exceptions are rare and require substantial justification. Demonstrate cost-effectiveness and efficient resource allocation.

8. Alignment with Foundation Priorities Clearly connect your work to one or more of the four priority sectors: Crisis Response, Education, Economic Empowerment, or Climate Resilience. Use the foundation's language and frameworks when describing your program.

9. Board Engagement Applications require certification that the board chair or at least one officer has reviewed the proposal and confirms board awareness and support. This signals that engaged governance is important to Cisco.

10. Potential for Broader Market Impact The foundation looks for solutions with "potential for broad market impact beyond direct funding"—innovations that could influence the sector, inspire other funders, or create system-level change.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Applications currently paused until early 2026 due to platform transition—use this time to prepare a strong application and build relationships
  • First-time applicants capped at $75,000—plan for modest initial request with potential to grow the relationship
  • Technology integration is non-negotiable—demonstrate how digital solutions amplify your impact
  • Two-stage process takes 6+ months—plan your funding timeline accordingly and don't wait until you have an urgent need
  • Foundation favors smaller organizations—more than half of grants go to nonprofits with budgets under $5 million
  • Think scale from day one—the foundation wants solutions that can reach millions, not just local communities
  • Leverage the full Cisco ecosystem—97% of partners secured additional funding; beyond cash grants, explore Technology Grant Program and strategic guidance opportunities
  • Measurement matters intensely—use the application preparation period to develop robust SMART metrics and evaluation systems

References

← Back to US Funders Directory