Volunteerism

Cisco leverages the network as a platform to better the world. Our employees localize the impact of giving back by volunteering in their communities.

We look for volunteer opportunities that provide Cisco employee volunteers, known as "Cisco Citizens", the chance to make positive and long-term impact in their communities. During fiscal year 2011, Cisco employees volunteered more than 160,000 hours in communities around the world. Following are a few of the ways in which we encourage our "Cisco Citizens" to give back to the communities where they live, work, play and learn.

Each of Cisco's worldwide Civic Councils consists of a team of employee champions who are passionate about giving back in their local communities. The Civic Councils plan volunteer projects, develop nonprofit partnerships, roll out product donation programs, and work towards cash grantmaking — each initiative custom-fit to the specific needs of the local community. By leveraging existing Cisco resources and fostering new enthusiasm for giving back, our Civic Councils create meaningful change at the local level.

The Cisco Foundation matches employee donations of money and volunteer time to qualifying nonprofit organizations and schools with a cash contribution. All employees are encouraged to take advantage of this generous benefit by volunteering at least a day of service every year to a qualified charity. We believe that when employees volunteer and give back, they strengthen their connections to the communities we serve.

The Employee Product Donation Program (EPDP) enables regular Cisco employees to purchase Cisco equipment at a 75% discount for donation to qualified nonprofit organizations and schools in the United States.

Joining the board of a nonprofit organization is a unique way to serve the community while developing one's leadership abilities and exploring one's professional interests. Nonprofits depend on their board members for fiscal oversight, strategic guidance, and long-term visionary thinking, but there are thousands of vacant positions on philanthropic boards across the country. That's where boardnetUSA comes in. Through our partnership with this innovative nonprofit, Cisco empowers its employees to connect to a nonprofit board position that's right for them.

The goal of our annual global campaign is twofold; educate our employees about the challenges of the working poor, as well as offer the opportunity to give back to the community in which we work and live. Employees get involved with fundraising activities and offer hands-on help with food sorts at food bank warehouses around the world, in addition to making cash and stock donations to their favorite hunger relief agency via our online giving program. Learn more.