Cisco welcomes applications for the Product Grant Program from community partners around the world who share our vision and offer an innovative approach to a critical social challenge.
Cisco donates networking technology to qualified nonprofit organizations to help them realize significant gains in productivity, scalability, and cost efficiency. Together, we build public benefit programs that make innovative use of networking and communications technology to have a measurable impact.
The Cisco Product Grant Program focuses on the same social investment areas as our cash grants: Cisco Crisis Response (which includes shelter, water, food, and disaster relief); education; economic empowerment; and climate impact and regeneration.
Cisco's Product Grant Program accepts applications year-round from eligible charitable organizations. Nonprofits can determine their eligibility by reviewing our grant giving policies and the requirements below.
All direct grant applications must be completed using our online application form. Cisco will not consider incomplete proposals or paper-based applications. The following are not eligible for product grants:
We accept proposals for direct product grants on an ongoing, year-round basis. However, grants are reviewed on a quarterly cycle. Applicants should plan at least three months for grant review plus additional time for product shipments.
Q1: August – October
Q2: November – January
Q3: February – April
Q4: May – July
The maximum request amount for first-time grant recipients is US$100,000 (list price) of equipment.
Product Grants cannot be given to organizations that have purchased Cisco equipment within the last six months or that plan to purchase Cisco equipment within the next six months.
Ideal grantees take full advantage of Cisco's rich asset mix and end-to-end strategic thinking, using technology and ingenuity to bring about order-of-magnitude improvements. We look for how organizations will use technology to better address their mission or the missions of other nonprofits; expand their service to more clients or provide additional services at a similar cost; and provide technology access to underserved populations or nonprofits that do so.
Cisco Product Grant Program includes five free years of Cisco's Smart Net support service or similar.
Cisco gives highest priority to proposals that clearly articulate the planned impact of their efforts, as well as the metrics by which the impact is measured.
Operational success is determined by how operations would improve as a result of the grant. The data should be expressed as projected cost savings or increased revenue ($) to demonstrate efficiency and productivity gains in your operations.
Examples:
Mission success is determined by how your organization can increase its reach and impact as a result of the grant.
Examples:
Technology success is determined by the benefits derived from the equipment. Indicators could include enhanced security, newfound scalability, or improved reliability of communications within your organization, with partners, or with other stakeholders. You could also describe related technological enhancements as a result of the grant.
In general, the larger the requested grant amount, the more measurements you will need to provide.
The following policies apply to the Product Grant Program.
Cisco requires applicants to certify that the chairperson, or at least one officer of the organization's board of directors, has reviewed the grant proposal, and that the organization's board is aware of the application and supports its submission. Cisco also requires applicants to certify the accuracy of the proposal and to confirm that the organization complies with the policies stated on this website.
Cisco looks for grant proposals in which concrete measures of success can be used to assess performance. Organizations that receive a product grant will be required to report back on their project over the life of the grant by means of online surveys. Meaningful participation in this process is a requirement for continued funding eligibility.
Please note that these frequently asked questions relate specifically to Cisco's Product Grant Program. For general Smart Net questions and inquiries, please visit Cisco's main Smart Net site.
Cisco recommends that you purchase Cisco Smart Net coverage by contacting a Cisco Reseller of Smart Net service for a quote.
Cisco encourages, in such cases, to provide the equipment for recycling via Cisco's recycle program where available. For details, please refer to Cisco Customer Recycling Solutions. Regranting of the equipment can only be done with Cisco's approval. Reselling is not allowed.
Serial numbers that are not part of the Product Grant cannot be added to the contract. Only covered donated products are eligible. End-users are responsible for obtaining their own Cisco support agreements for any other Cisco equipment they own.
Product grant applications are accepted year round. We offer an indirect product grant program, managed by Techsoup on behalf of Cisco, and a direct product grant program.
Smaller nonprofits with a request for standard equipment, under US$50,000 list price, are managed by our partners:
Direct product grants are available to nonprofit organizations in many places worldwide. For various logistical reasons, we recommend you to contact us before you apply online so we can discuss the details up front.
Step 1: Eligibility quiz
The eligibility quiz will help you determine whether your organization and program are aligned with Cisco's mission, strategic approach, and objectives for grant support. Take the eligibility quiz.
Step 2: Online application
Eligible organizations will be able to register and complete the online application form. This form requests detailed information about your organization, current and requested technology, network schematics support details, measuring impact, budget, and population served.
Direct product grants are available to non-governmental organizations in many places worldwide. For various logistical reasons, we recommend you to contact us before you apply online so we can discuss the details up front.
Cisco is supporting non-governmental (NGO) organizations by providing eligible organizations the ability to purchase Webex Meetings at a 60% discounted rate, coming out to US$0.80 per user per month, with our Flex Plan Non-Governmental Organization offer. With Webex, you can increase the reach of your organization while reducing office and travel expenses.
Please review the Webex Flex NGO Plan (PDF - 664 KB) and learn more on webex.com.
If you have a question about Cisco's Product Grant Program (PGP), please contact us. Note that we can only respond to inquiries directly related to Cisco product grants.