Climate Resilience Funding from Cisco Foundation

Climate Resilience Funding from Cisco Foundation is sponsored by Cisco Systems Foundation. Global Impact Cash Grants from Cisco Systems Foundation provide funding for Florida nonprofits and NGOs using technology to advance climate resilience, crisis response, education, or economic empowerment for primarily underserved communities.

**OVERVIEW:**The Cisco Foundation is the charitable arm of the global telecom giant Cisco Systems. It makes grants for climate change mitigation, education, work and opportunity, disaster relief and humanitarian aid. **IP TAKE:**The Cisco Foundation’s grants are often accompanied by strategic support in the areas of technology and connectivity.

It runs a Global Impact Cash Grants program for which it accepts letters of inquiry and has supported some innovative mid-sized nonprofits, especially in the areas of climate change and economic opportunity. Cisco is somewhat accessible for a corporate funder and likes to collaborate on tech-heavy projects. There is no direct way to reach out with questions, but networking with leadership or past grantees may yield results.

**PROFILE:**TheCisco Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the global telecom giant Cisco Systems. It was established in 1997 and operates out of Cisco’s corporate headquarters in San Jose, California. The foundation pursues a mission to “partner with organizations to create and scale innovative digital solutions that promote a healthy planet and advance the well-being and self-reliance of underserved communities globally.

” Its main investment areas areEducation,Economic Empowerment, Climate Regeneration and Crisis Response. In addition to funding, the foundation supports its grantees with “strategic guidance and technology — helping high-potential organizations scale their tech-enabled solutions for maximum social impact. ” Cisco awards grants in geographic areas where its parent company has a significant operational presence.

In addition to signature programs and ongoing strategic partnerships, Cisco awards competitive grants via its Global Impact Cash Grants program. **Grants for Environment, Climate Change and Clean Energy** Cisco’s Climate Regeneration focus area is its largest area of philanthropic engagement. In 2021, the foundation committed $100 million over ten years to grants and impact investments to support “innovative climate solutions.

” The foundation’s giving focuses on the following climate related issues: * Protecting “carbon sinks,” including oceans and forests, using “nature-based” solutions; * Advancing sustainable agriculture for long-term soil and ecosystem health; * Promoting the transition to clean energy systems that are sustainable and inclusive; * Supporting “community resourcing” of climate solutions through education and financing; * Advancing “circular transformation” or a world in which “resources are perpetually reused, and waste is designed out of processes”‘; * Building and maintaining sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure for most-affected communities.

Grantees of Cisco’s climate giving program include the Capital for Climate Project at Dalberg Catalyst, the New Venture Fund’s Carbon Capture Development Fund, the Andes-Amazon Conservancy and Mad Agriculture, a Boulder-based nonprofit that helps “farmers thrive in regenerative organic agriculture.

” Cisco’s Education grantmaking has tapered off somewhat in recent years but focuses on increasing access to digital skills training and educational technology.

* A signature program, Cisco Networking Academy, is a network of partnerships with schools, universities, governments and education nonprofits that aims to “bridge digital divides for underrepresented communities, opening them up to a world of opportunities in the evolving digital economy.

” Cisco describes the program as a “IT skills-to-jobs program” and has created 52 technology courses that have been taught in 18 languages to approximately 4. 7 million students around the world. * Other grantee partners include Code.

org, the California Institute of Technology and Talking Points, an educational technology nonprofit that creates platforms to engage families in their children’s education. **Grants for Work and Opportunity** Like its education funding, the Cisco Systems Foundation’s giving for Economic Empowerment focuses on technology skills development for jobs of the future.

* Other areas of interest include inclusive entrepreneurship and increasing access to affordable banking services for the world’s underbanked. * Grantees of this program include Chicago’s Opportunity International, the microfinance organization FINCA International, Sistech, which provides technology skills training to refugee women, and Peru’s Laboratoria, which also prepares women for careers in technology.

**Grants for Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid** Cisco’s Crisis Response grantmaking provides timely assistance to communities as they prepare, respond and rebuild from disasters. * While the foundation makes monetary grants for response, it also helps communities and nonprofits with technology systems related to emergency response.

For example, the foundation partnered with Mercy Corps to launch Technology for Impact, a $10 million that uses technology to get help to where its needed most. * In 2001, Cisco cofounded Nethope, a nonprofit that facilitates connectivity, digital programming and training for relief efforts around the world.

* Other disaster and humanitarian grantees include the Norwegian Refugee Council, Trek Medics International, the American Red Cross and CARE. **Important Grant Details:** Grants from Cisco run anywhere from $10,000 to over $500,000. * Cisco’s philanthropy comprises a range of grants, signature programs and strategic partnerships.

Partnerships typically include strategic support in the areas of of technology and connectivity. * Climate change has been the foundation’s largest area of giving in recent years, with grants supporting several mid-sized organizations with innovative approaches to mitigation. * Cisco accepts letters of inquiry via its Global Impact Cash Grants Programfrom “organizations around the globe with national or multinational operations.

” Start the application process by completing the eligibility quiz. * Eligible organizations may submit proposals at any time, but the foundation may take up to three months to review letters. Full proposals are accepted by invitation only.

See complete guidelines here. * For information about past giving see the foundation’sfunding recipients section or its annual reports. Contact the Cisco Foundation via email at _**ciscofoundation@cisco.

com**_ or by telephone at (408) 527-3040. * Global Impact Cash Grants