How Cisco’s Employees Work Together to Give Back

The following is an excerpt from our FY24 Purpose Report, celebrating 40 years of impact at Cisco. Data and metrics are reflective of Cisco’s fiscal year 2024, ending on July 31, 2024.

At Cisco, serving our local communities is a core part of the employee experience. In fiscal 2024, for the fifth year in a row, more than 80% of employees participated in community impact by giving their time, money, talent, and skills, as well as by advocating for causes, taking pledges to act, and participating in sustainability efforts. In addition to making a difference in the world, research shows that employees, leaders, and teams who give back to their communities are linked to lower attrition, higher recognition, and higher rewards.

Our Community Impact Portal is a key entry point for employees to find opportunities and track their impact, and we offer customization in 20 languages, tax receipts, and a mobile app to make participating easy. New this year, we took a more inclusive approach to cause eligibility and increased the number of nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) eligible for the Matching Gifts Program from 7,000 to 90,000 (and counting!) to give our employees much more choice in which causes to support.

In FY24, our Matching Gifts Program provided up to $25,000 per year in matching gifts per employee, and Cisco matches employees’ donations of cash, stock, and volunteer time. Cisco also offers 80 hours of paid time off for community service per employee, per calendar year, as part of the Time2Give program.

Giving Back

Our employees are multipliers for positive change, and they’re encouraged to power our Purpose through their own grassroots initiatives. For example, inspired by Cisco’s longstanding value of giving back and the desire for more in-person connection, a team of Cisco employees developed their own “Global Week of Giving.” With quarterly themes—from sustainability to education—their fiscal 2024 efforts led to 6,000 employees volunteering and generating US$180,000 in matching donations.

Participating in Pro Bono Programs

Pro bono work allows employees to use their time, skills, and expertise to help communities around the globe. The Cisco Legal Department uses their specialized skills to expand access to justice, with 91% of our U.S.-based attorneys participating in Pro Bono at Cisco in fiscal 2024—up from 56% in fiscal 2023. Volunteers engage in traditional legal pro bono work for attorneys and business/technical professionals, assist legal aid providers in scaling their operations, and identify ways to leverage Cisco technology to enhance access to legal services and courtrooms.

To learn more about the progress we’re making to Power an Inclusive Future for All, visit our Cisco Purpose Reporting Hub.

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