The Cisco Donations Program is currently available to Canadian Charities registered with the Canadian Revenue Agency.
Products will be distributed to eligible organisations only, not to individuals and within the Cisco Guidelines.An organization must have an annual budget of less than 20 million USD per annum.
Organizations which provide the following types of services may be eligible to receive Cisco donations through this program:
Please note: Organizations whose scope of activities includes work in developing countries are especially encouraged to seek Cisco donations through this program.
A range of direct-service nonprofit organisations that primarily serve
economically disadvantaged people are eligible to receive Cisco
donations. Please make sure that your organisation's primary mission and services correspond to one of the following organisational types:
- Heath services: hospital auxiliaries; health clinics; rural medical facilities; blood banks; cooperative hospital services; mental health care facilities
- Housing services: low-income housing; low- and moderate-income housing; housing for the aged; instruction and guidance on housing
- Education, job training, and literacy support: apprentice training; other instruction and training; job counseling or assistance; remedial educational services
- Emergency or disaster aid: aid to people in the event of a disaster; controlling the effects of a disaster; educating or preparing individuals before disasters occur
The following types of organizations are not eligible to receive Cisco donations through this program:
- Affiliates of a national organisation (such as the Red Cross, YMCA) that has more than twenty locations (even if those affiliates are considered separate entities and are not funded by the national organisation)
- Religious organisations without a secular community designation — A secular designation is defined as an organisation separate from the church or religious organisation that provides services to people regardless of their religious beliefs and does not propagate a belief in a specific faith. Example: A food bank that is run by a church, but is a separate and unique organisation that provides food and meals to anyone who qualifies for services, regardless of religious beliefs.
- Legislative and political advocacy groups
- Youth services organisations other than those listed above for education, job training, and literacy support to underserved populations
- Radio, television, media, publishing programmes, or training
- Foundations, lending, grant-making organisations, or organisations that provide funding or loans
- Schools & scholarships: Public schools or school systems, Private schools, Charter schools, School foundations, Booster clubs or other fundraising organisations affiliated with particular school(s), Colleges/universities, Scholarships/stipend programs of any kind
- Charities that offer Cisco Networking Academy training programs; even if they were previously accepted for Cisco grants and those who instruct Networking Academy curriculum as a single or seperate component of their overall mission and/or services
- Referral services
- Animal care services and facilities
- Scientific research activities
- Sports Activities and services
- Day care centers
- Legal aid, credit counseling, and civil rights activities
- Museums
- Art, cultural, and environmental education organisations
- Libraries
- Camps and Zoos
- Rescue and emergency services — fire departments (including volunteer) and ambulance and helicopter services
- Hospitals and nursing homes
- Organisations that advocate, support, or practice discrimination based on age, ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.
Guidelines
An organization may receive no more than one donation of Cisco products per fiscal year.
Administrative fees for Cisco equipment received by a single organization may total no more than $2,000 per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30.)
Cisco products may not be transferred or resold.
Recipient organizations are required to sign an Equipment Donation Agreement. Please see Cisco Program FAQs for further information.
