Cisco Systems and the Cisco Foundation seek to support public benefit organizations that are substantially in alignment with our non-discrimination policy. Organizations that are found to discriminate in their provision of services and/or their hiring practices based on any of these or other criteria may be deemed ineligible for funding support and/or required to return any grant awards and may be rendered ineligible for future support.
Following are the basic eligibility requirements and policies for Cisco Global Impact Cash Grants:
Organization Classification
· U.S. organizations must provide evidence that the IRS has recognized them as tax exempt under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c)(3), AND has classified them as a public charity
· Organizations from outside the U.S. must (a) provide information and documents to determine whether the organization is the equivalent of a U.S. public charity, or (b) agree to sign and comply with an expenditure responsibility contract. Cisco will determine whether (a) or (b) is appropriate for a particular organization
First-Time Global Impact Cash Grant Applicants
Note that for first-time global grant applicants, the maximum request amount Cisco will consider is US$75,000.
Ineligible Programs and/or Activities
•Miscellaneous exclusions: general operating expenses, other than directly associated with the program itself; individuals; research programs; membership-based activities; programs that promote or serve one culture, race, religion, population group, or political viewpoint – rather than the community at large; religious, political, or sectarian organizations (some exceptions apply. See our “Policy on Religious Proselytizing” below).
•Hospitals: Private or public hospitals; hospital foundations; medical centers, research centers, etc. (Programs based in a hospital may be eligible; however, grant funds must go exclusively to direct service in the community, not to general hospital operating expenses.)
•Schools and scholarships: Private, public, or charter schools; school foundations, booster clubs, and/or fundraising organizations affiliated with a particular school; colleges/universities; scholarships, stipends or loans within a program; and/or school-related activities such as field trips, research programs, etc.
•Events: athletic events, competitions, tournaments; conferences, seminars, workshops; festivals, field trips, or other recreational events; fundraising events or sponsorships (benefit dinners, walks/runs, concerts, sports teams, etc.)
•Philanthropic: capital building funds, challenge grants, grant-making organizations (all other foundations including private foundations, family foundations, school foundations, etc.)
Policy on the Funding of Equipment
In general, Cisco does not fund the purchase of computer hardware or software, but may consider doing so only in cases where: 1) such resources are leveraged in a strategically innovative manner, thereby extending their impact well beyond everyday/staff use; AND 2) such resources are not available through other, more cost-effective means such as in-kind donation. Applicants must demonstrate that they have thoroughly explored such avenues without success.
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