Silicon Valley Impact Grants

Program Overview

Silicon Valley Impact Grants offer $15,000 in targeted funding for standout programs within qualifying community organizations. Grants are awarded through a competitive annual process staffed by Cisco employee volunteers who are passionate about supporting the Bay Area's most innovative and effective nonprofits.

Nonprofits: Are You Eligible?

To qualify for a Silicon Valley Impact Grant, your program must:

• Operate within 50 miles of Cisco's Silicon Valley headquarters
• Focus on Education or Health (details apply)
• Measure its impact on the community
• Emphasize scalability and sustainability
• Incorporate technology whenever possible

Also, your organization must:

• Qualify as 501(c)(3) public charity
• Restrict operating expenses to less than 25%
• Refrain from regranting Cisco funds
• Demonstrate at least one year of successful operation
• Apply on behalf of only one program per year

Additional restrictions apply. Please review our eligibility requirements and policies before beginning an online application.

Now Seeking Innovative New Programs from Established Organizations

We now except grant application submissions for programs within an organization with less than one year of implementation (provided the organization itself has been in existence for minimum of one full year). We are looking for innovative, replicable, sustainable opportunities that use the internet and communications technology to improve the efficiency and reach of program services. Cisco funding should not exceed 50% of total budget. Resources for additional funding of new program must be included in submitted application to insure launch of new program within FY2009.

Deadlines & How to Apply

The online application for this program opens February 1 of each year and closes March 1 of each year, at 11:59 PM PST. Successful applicants can expect to receive grant funds in July. Learn how to apply.

Special Note for Returning Grantees

If your organization has had any program funded for the last three years in a row, you must sit out one full year before applying for either a new program or further funding of an existing program. Please reference our grant recipients page for past awarded grants to determine your eligibility.