The following sections provide an overview of each of the steps within our new grant application and evaluation process.
Step 1: Review Cisco Investment Areas, Grant-making Criteria, and Policies for Global Impact Cash Grant Program
Before beginning the application process, please review relevant sections of this site to familiarize yourself with our investment areas, grantmaking criteria, and eligibility guidelines and policies, to determine if your organization and program align with our objectives and criteria.
Step 2: Eligibility Quiz
The Eligibility Quiz is the second step in Cisco's Global Impact Cash Grant application process. Any organization interested in submitting an application for consideration may complete this online Quiz. This Quiz must be completed by the potential applicant organization, regardless of its geographic base of operations or location of organization headquarters. The intention of this Quiz is to help you evaluate whether your organization has a program a) that meets our grant-making criteria and eligibility requirements, and b) that Cisco might consider for potential cash grant support. Completion of the eleven-question 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 now.
Step 3: Initial Information Form
The Initial Information Form is the third step in our grant application process. Organizations that successfully complete Cisco's Eligibility Quiz will be prompted to register their organization and complete the online Initial Information Form. The intention of this Form is to further evaluate whether your organization has a program Cisco might consider for cash grant support. Note that for first-time applicants, the maximum request amount we will consider is US$75,000.
A Cisco grant administrator will review the Initial Information Form submitted by your organization. He/she will respond to you within one business quarter to confirm whether or not your organization will be invited to submit a formal proposal application online. Please note that submission of an Initial Information Form does not guarantee that your organization will be invited to submit a formal proposal application. Initial Information Forms are reviewed wholly within the discretion of Cisco and the Cisco Foundation.
Step 4: Full Proposal
If, upon review of your organization's Initial Information Form, the Cisco grant administrator determines that your organization's program is aligned with Cisco's mission, strategic approach, and objectives for grant support, you will receive an invitation to submit a formal proposal application online, along with an invitation code for the relevant proposal type. Once your full proposal is submitted, your application will begin the formal review process. If further information is needed, you will be contacted by a grant administrator. You can expect to hear from a grant administrator on whether your grant proposal has been approved or rejected, within one business quarter.
Please note that receiving a request from Cisco to submit a formal proposal application does not constitute a guarantee of proposal application approval. Furthermore, Cisco is not responsible for any proposal related expenses incurred by your organization, at any step in the grant application process. Grant application policies and requirements are subject to change without notice, and become effective immediately upon posting to this website. The interpretation of these policies is wholly within the discretion of Cisco and the Cisco Foundation. Furthermore, all grants are made at the discretion of Cisco and the Cisco Foundation. Qualification under the policies listed on this website does not entitle an organization to receive a grant. We reserve the right to decline to make any grant requested.
