Empowering Communities Through Technology, Innovation & Sustainability - Cisco Foundation
At the heart of our vision is a world where individuals and communities are resilient, empowered, and positioned to thrive. The Cisco Foundation was created in 1997 through a contribution from Cisco Systems, Inc., originally focusing on addressing essential needs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since then, our mission has expanded significantly, evolving into a global initiative aimed at tackling a wide range of challenges.
Today, the Cisco Foundation, in collaboration with Cisco’s broader Social Impact Investments, combines talent, technology, and financial resources to support a healthier planet and improve lives worldwide. We provide strategic funding to promising organizations for the design, development, and testing of technology-based innovations. Our goal is to scale these solutions to drive meaningful, lasting change. This work is supported by donations of technology, capacity-building programs, and additional forms of support.
Our investment strategy covers a broad spectrum of needs, including emergency relief, education, economic opportunity, and environmental restoration. This approach played a key role in helping Cisco reach its milestone of positively impacting one billion lives—and it remains the cornerstone of our ongoing efforts. In FY24, our early-stage investments began to generate systemic change, while newer initiatives—such as AI for Good—yielded promising early results. We’re committed to fostering a global community of changemakers who can create sustainable, positive change.
Harnessing AI for Social Good
As artificial intelligence transforms both society and the workforce, we’re adapting our investment strategy to align with this shift. Many of our partners are now leveraging AI to close data and digital access gaps—and we’re proud to support their groundbreaking efforts. Examples include:
Today, the Cisco Foundation, in collaboration with Cisco’s broader Social Impact Investments, combines talent, technology, and financial resources to support a healthier planet and improve lives worldwide. We provide strategic funding to promising organizations for the design, development, and testing of technology-based innovations. Our goal is to scale these solutions to drive meaningful, lasting change. This work is supported by donations of technology, capacity-building programs, and additional forms of support.
Our investment strategy covers a broad spectrum of needs, including emergency relief, education, economic opportunity, and environmental restoration. This approach played a key role in helping Cisco reach its milestone of positively impacting one billion lives—and it remains the cornerstone of our ongoing efforts. In FY24, our early-stage investments began to generate systemic change, while newer initiatives—such as AI for Good—yielded promising early results. We’re committed to fostering a global community of changemakers who can create sustainable, positive change.
Harnessing AI for Social Good
As artificial intelligence transforms both society and the workforce, we’re adapting our investment strategy to align with this shift. Many of our partners are now leveraging AI to close data and digital access gaps—and we’re proud to support their groundbreaking efforts. Examples include:
- Bridges to Prosperity: Using machine learning, their Fika Map identifies optimal sites for trail bridges to maximize access to education, healthcare, and economic activity.
- charity: water: Their AI-driven system analyzes sensor data from rural water pumps to forecast failures, helping ensure continuous access to clean water.
- CareerVillage: Their AI Career Coach delivers personalized career guidance to more students and educators at scale.
Advancing Education Around the Globe
We are committed to supporting students, educators, and schools worldwide by enhancing student engagement, developing teacher skills, and fostering academic success. For instance, our partnership with Human-I-T helps bridge the digital divide by providing internet access and refurbished devices to students in Los Angeles and Detroit. Additionally, we back Glific.org, an open-source communication platform that strengthens connections between nonprofits and their communities. Through our support, education-focused partners using Glific have improved teacher effectiveness and student performance across Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
Investing in Environmental Sustainability
In 2021, the Cisco Foundation pledged $100 million over a decade to fund climate-focused initiatives. Our investment strategy includes a combination of equity stakes in climate startups, investments in green venture funds, and grants for nonprofit organizations.
One of our clean energy initiatives supported Jaza Energy, which integrates solar-powered energy hubs with telecom infrastructure. We’ve also funded efforts to preserve natural ecosystems, such as the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, which is building a regenerative economy while safeguarding 86 million acres of rainforest inhabited by 600,000 Indigenous people. In addition, we backed Kara Solar, a South American, Indigenous-led group delivering solar-powered transportation, community energy systems, and training for local technicians.
Promoting Economic Opportunity
We invest in programs that provide individuals with the skills, tools, and financial access they need to gain economic stability and drive community progress. For example, our partner Defy Ventures helps formerly incarcerated individuals build job skills and launch businesses. Our support enabled them to engage 7,000 people, start 175 businesses, and achieve an 84% employment rate post-incarceration.
Similarly, we support Agora Partnerships, which developed a platform to help small and midsize businesses across Latin America innovate with climate solutions, improving efficiency and outcomes.
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