Deadline: Ongoing - Grants are reviewed on a quarterly cycle.
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Grant Description
In-kind grants of technology equipment to USA, Canada, and International nonprofit organizations to help increase their productivity, cost-efficiency, and scalability. Applicants must contact the funding source prior to applying. The grant is intended to assist organizations with programs addressing education, economic empowerment, climate impact, and crisis response. The goal of the grant program is to build public benefit programs that make innovative use of the Internet and communications technology and have a measurable impact.
Organizational Requirements:
• Only registered non-profit (NPO) or non-governmental (NGO) orgs can apply
• For the US, organizations must be recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and classified as a public charity
• Outside the US, organizations must provide information and documentation to prove the organization is the equivalent of a US public charity
• Organization must serve the community at large
• Organization’s overhead must not exceed 25%
• Focus must be aligned with Cisco’s Social Investment Areas (Cisco Crisis Response, Climate Impact, Economic Empowerment, Education)
• Cisco’s Grant Giving Policies must be adhered to
• Should avoid any sales conflicts, no ‘quid pro quo’ allowed
Ineligible
Examples of Ineligible Organizations:
• Schools & scholarships:
• Public, charter, or private schools or school systems
• School foundations
• Booster clubs or other fundraising organizations affiliated with a school
• Colleges or universities
• Scholarships/stipend programs of any kind
• Libraries or museums
• Sport clubs
• Hospitals or health care centers
• Arts programs
Technology Grants are not:
• A donation of 3rd party equipment, goods or services (tablets, laptops, ISP costs, trainings, food, clothing, etc.) or used equipment of any kind
• Linked to anything that provides a direct benefit to Cisco
• To support an existing customer relation or provide any kind of discount
• To individuals or for-profit organizations
Technology Grants do not include:
• Design, installation, or training
• Active Cisco customers are NOT eligible for TGP donations.
• A customer in this context is defined as any organization who:
- Purchased or intended to purchase Cisco products 6 months before a TGP request
- Intends to purchase Cisco products 6 months after a TGP request
- Has an ongoing sales relation with Cisco
• Conversely, sales to a TGP grantee are not permitted until 6 months after a charitable donation
• Both direct and indirect sales via a Cisco partner or distributor are considered a sale
• Participating in a trial or try-and-buy program is considered an intent to purchase
• In case of doubt, please check with your TGP contact
Pre-Application Information
Proposals for direct product grants are accepted on an ongoing, year-round basis. However, grants are reviewed on a quarterly cycle.
Quarterly Review Schedule:
• Q1: August – October
• Q2: November – January
• Q3: February – April
• Q4: May – July
Application Process:
• Submit a question or request via TGP Contact Form
• If invited to a call:
- The TGP program rules will be reviewed
- Expectations, logistics, and timelines will be clarified
- Initial product list is reviewed to verify if the technology is supported by the TGP program
- High-level eligibility review is done
• An initial assessment of the request will be made
• TGP contact will provide the non-profit with advice on what next steps they can take
• If both non-profit and Cisco determine a TGP grant application can be an option, Cisco will share the link to apply for a grant
Cisco offers two primary pathways for technology grants. For larger, more complex requests, use the customized process managed directly by Cisco. For smaller, more routine requests, use the simpler process managed by Cisco's partner TechSoup.
• Application Path 1: TGP Donations Managed by Cisco
To inquire about a larger or more complex TGP grant request from Cisco, use the TGP contact form to send a message.
• Application Path 2: TGP Donations Managed by TechSoup
Since 2003, Cisco has partnered with TechSoup to provide smaller and more routine TGP donations in select countries (namely, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, UK, and US). TechSoup manages the application process and is the point of contact for this program. The process varies depending on whether you are within the United States or outside the United States, where TechSoup works via local affiliates.
• The maximum request amount for first-time grant recipients is US$100,000 (list price) of equipment.
• Most charitable TGP donations come with either 5-year licenses or 5-year support contracts.
Before starting your grant application, please review
the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums /
conferences / LOIs.
