The Cisco Foundation Grants 2026 provide funding opportunities for nonprofit organisations and NGOs developing innovative, technology-enabled solutions to major social challenges.

One of the main opportunities available to organisations around the world is the:

Global Impact Cash Grant Program.

Cisco uses the programme to identify and support early-stage solutions with strong potential for measurable and scalable impact.

The programme focuses on four major social impact sectors:

• Crisis Response
• Education
• Economic Empowerment
• Climate Resilience

An important requirement is that programmes should serve communities where more than:

65% of the target population is economically underserved

relative to average standards in the target geography.

Technology is another major consideration.

Cisco prioritises programmes that use information and communications technology to improve the efficiency, reach or effectiveness of services.

For organisations applying for the first time, the maximum grant request is:

US$100,000.

However, applicants should understand that Cisco does not describe $100,000 as the universal maximum for every Global Impact Cash Grant.

The $100,000 ceiling specifically applies to:

First-time grant recipients.

Another important advantage is the application schedule.

Cisco currently accepts eligible applications:

Year-round.

There is no single annual deadline for the Global Impact Cash Grant programme.

This makes the Cisco Foundation Grants 2026 particularly relevant to eligible Nigerian NGOs and nonprofits that have innovative, technology-enabled programmes addressing underserved communities.

What Is the Cisco Foundation?

The Cisco Foundation is the philanthropic foundation associated with Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco Foundation support organisations working to create scalable solutions to social and environmental challenges.

Their social impact approach combines resources such as:

• Cash grants
• Technology donations
• Strategic guidance
• Employee volunteering

The objective is not simply to finance isolated charitable activities.

Cisco looks for organisations and solutions capable of demonstrating measurable impact, replicating successful approaches and operating at greater scale.

The Global Impact Cash Grant programme is funded by both Cisco and the Cisco Foundation.

Cisco Foundation Grants 2026 Key Facts

Item	Details
Programme	Global Impact Cash Grant Program
Funders	Cisco and Cisco Foundation
Funding	Cash grants
First-Time Grant Maximum	US$100,000
Applications	Accepted year-round
Initial Application	Eligibility Quiz + Letter of Inquiry
Eligible Organisations	Nonprofits and NGOs
International Organisations	Potentially eligible
Underserved Population Requirement	More than 65%
Main Sectors	Crisis Response, Education, Economic Empowerment, Climate Resilience
Technology Requirement	Innovative use of technology is an important evaluation criterion
Overhead Limit	Generally not more than 25%
Initial LOI Review	Up to one business quarter
Full Proposal	By invitation
Nigeria	Potentially eligible
Application Method	Online

1. How Much Funding Does Cisco Foundation Provide?

There is no single published maximum amount covering every Cisco Foundation grant recipient.

However, Cisco establishes a specific ceiling for organisations receiving a Global Impact Cash Grant for the first time.

The maximum request amount for a:

First-time grant recipient

is:

US$100,000.

Therefore, a new applicant should not prepare a first-time proposal requesting $500,000 simply because Cisco is a large multinational company.

The official programme requirement is clear.

First-time recipients should limit their request to:

$100,000 or less.

Funding is competitive.

Meeting the eligibility requirements does not automatically mean an organisation will receive the amount requested.

2. Cisco Global Impact Cash Grant Program

The Global Impact Cash Grant Program is one of Cisco's major international social-impact funding mechanisms.

It supports nonprofit organisations and NGOs addressing significant social challenges.

Cisco looks particularly for programmes that:

• Address important unmet needs
• Serve economically underserved populations
• Use technology innovatively
• Measure results
• Can be replicated
• Can scale
• Have sustainable models
• Are led by capable organisations

This means the programme is not simply looking for organisations requesting money for routine activities.

Applicants should demonstrate why their approach is innovative and how Cisco funding could contribute to broader impact.

3. Cisco Foundation Crisis Response Grants

One of Cisco's four priority social impact sectors is:

Cisco Crisis Response.

This area focuses on helping communities affected by crises and disasters.

Cisco identifies needs including:

• Food
• Housing
• Secure connectivity
• Disaster relief
• Other essential services

Technology can be particularly relevant during emergencies.

For example, programmes might improve:

• Emergency communications
• Access to information
• Disaster coordination
• Connectivity
• Distribution of essential resources

However, applicants should ensure that their proposed programme fits Cisco's current eligibility requirements rather than assuming that every humanitarian project qualifies.

4. Cisco Foundation Education Grants

Education is another major investment area.

Cisco supports programmes that help:

• Students
• Teachers
• Schools
• Learners

The objective can include:

• Increasing learner engagement
• Building skills
• Improving subject mastery
• Expanding the capacity of students to thrive

Technology-enabled education programmes may therefore be particularly relevant.

Potential programme models could involve areas such as:

• Digital learning
• Technology skills
• Teacher support
• Online education
• Learning platforms
• Skills development

However, there is an important distinction.

Cisco's Global Impact Cash Grant rules exclude direct grants to many traditional school-related activities.

Private, public and charter schools, school foundations and scholarships are among the categories generally excluded.

Therefore, an education nonprofit should carefully distinguish between an eligible scalable programme and ordinary school funding.

5. Cisco Foundation Economic Empowerment Grants

Economic Empowerment is another major funding sector.

Cisco focuses on programmes capable of transforming communities through areas such as:

• Skills development
• Career opportunities
• Entrepreneurship
• Access to financial products
• Access to financial services

This could make the programme relevant to NGOs working on:

• Youth employability
• Digital skills
• Entrepreneurship
• Workforce development
• Financial inclusion
• Small-business development

For Nigerian organisations, this area could be particularly interesting because technology can be integrated into programmes designed to expand economic opportunity.

However, applicants still need to satisfy the underserved-population requirement.

6. Cisco Foundation Climate Resilience Grants

Climate Resilience is the fourth major Global Impact Cash Grant sector.

Cisco focuses on building a:

More inclusive, regenerative and resilient climate future.

Areas identified by Cisco include:

• Climate education
• Regenerative agriculture
• Conservation
• Environmental protection
• Clean-energy solutions

This creates potential opportunities for organisations working on climate challenges affecting vulnerable communities.

For example, programmes might involve:

• Climate-smart agriculture
• Farmer resilience
• Clean energy
• Environmental education
• Ecosystem protection
• Community climate adaptation

Cisco also considers environmental sustainability proposals within some of its other investment sectors.

For example, an economic empowerment programme creating employment opportunities related to climate resilience could potentially combine economic and environmental objectives.

7. Cisco Foundation's $100 Million Climate Commitment

Cisco Foundation's climate work extends beyond individual Global Impact Cash Grants.

In 2021, the Cisco Foundation committed:

US$100 million over 10 years

toward nonprofit grants and impact investing in climate solutions.

The commitment was divided between:

$50 million for nonprofit grants

and:

$50 million for impact investments.

The investment side has evolved into the Cisco Foundation Regenerative Future Fund, which focuses on early-stage climate companies and venture funds.

The nonprofit side supports organisations developing and implementing resilient, climate-smart solutions.

Applicants should not confuse the $100 million overall climate commitment with the amount available to one organisation.

It represents a broader multi-year funding commitment.

8. Who Can Apply for Cisco Global Impact Cash Grants?

The Global Impact Cash Grant programme is designed primarily for:

Nonprofit organisations

and:

Nongovernmental organisations.

Organisations within the United States must generally have recognised U.S. public charity status.

International organisations face a different process.

Organisations outside the United States must provide information and documentation enabling Cisco to determine whether the organisation is equivalent to a:

U.S. public charity.

Therefore, being registered as an NGO in Nigeria does not automatically complete the eligibility process.

Cisco may need to assess the organisation's legal and charitable status.

9. Can Nigerian NGOs Apply for Cisco Foundation Grants?

Potentially, yes.

Cisco describes Global Impact Cash Grants as supporting eligible organisations around the world.

Its rules explicitly provide a process for organisations located:

Outside the United States.

International organisations must provide documentation that allows Cisco to determine whether they are equivalent to a U.S. public charity.

Therefore, Nigerian NGOs are not automatically excluded simply because they are registered outside the United States.

A Nigerian organisation should still satisfy all other requirements.

These include:

• Appropriate nonprofit status
• Eligible programme area
• Underserved target population
• Technology-enabled approach
• Acceptable overhead
• Strong impact measurement
• Scalability
• Sustainability

The proposed programme itself also needs to avoid Cisco's excluded activities.

10. The 65% Economically Underserved Requirement

This is one of the most important eligibility conditions.

Cisco requires funded programmes to serve an audience where:

More than 65% is economically underserved

relative to average standards in the target geography.

This means applicants should clearly define:

• Who their beneficiaries are
• Where beneficiaries live
• Their economic circumstances
• How underserved status is determined
• How many people the programme will reach

A vague statement such as:

"Our project supports vulnerable Nigerians"

may not provide enough evidence.

The organisation should be able to explain what makes the population economically underserved.

11. Technology Is an Important Part of the Programme

Cisco is a technology company.

Unsurprisingly, technology plays an important role in its grant-making strategy.

Cisco evaluates whether a programme makes innovative use of:

Information and communications technology.

Technology should improve areas such as:

• Programme efficiency
• Service delivery
• Reach
• Accessibility
• Scale

This does not mean every applicant needs to develop artificial intelligence or sophisticated software.

The technology should simply have a meaningful role in improving the programme.

For example, an employment NGO might use a digital platform to connect underserved young people with training and job opportunities.

An agricultural nonprofit might use mobile technology to deliver climate and market information to smallholder farmers.

An education programme might use technology to expand access to learning resources.

The important question is:

How does technology make the programme more effective or scalable?

12. Cisco Looks for Innovative Solutions

Cisco evaluates whether an applicant uses an innovative approach to address a significant social challenge.

The innovation should have potential impact beyond the immediate Cisco-funded activities.

For example, a successful solution might:

• Change how services are delivered
• Improve productivity
• Reduce costs
• Influence other organisations
• Create a new model
• Encourage partnerships
• Expand across communities

Innovation does not necessarily mean inventing completely new technology.

An organisation might use existing technology in a new and significantly more effective way.

13. Programmes Should Be Scalable and Replicable

Cisco specifically looks for programmes that can be:

Replicated

and:

Scaled.

This is important.

Suppose a Nigerian NGO develops a digital skills programme serving 300 young people in Abuja.

The application should not stop at:

"We will train 300 people."

It should also explain:

• Whether the model could work in other states
• What expansion would cost
• Whether technology reduces expansion costs
• How partners could replicate the programme
• How quality would be maintained
• How the programme could continue after Cisco funding

The programme should ideally create impact beyond one funding cycle.

14. Sustainability Matters

Cisco evaluates whether the programme can continue beyond its initial grant.

Applicants should therefore explain:

• Future funding
• Partnerships
• Revenue where applicable
• Government collaboration
• Institutional support
• Community ownership
• Cost reductions
• Scaling strategy

A proposal that completely collapses immediately after Cisco funding ends may appear less sustainable.

The organisation should show how the grant contributes to a longer-term strategy.

15. Cisco Requires Measurable Results

Cisco places significant emphasis on:

SMART metrics.

These should be:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Timely

Applicants should explain exactly what success looks like.

Instead of saying:

"The programme will empower Nigerian youths."

a stronger result could state:

"1,000 economically underserved young people will complete digital skills training, with at least 700 achieving the programme's defined competency benchmark."

The actual target should come from the organisation's realistic programme design.

Organisations receiving funding are also required to use Cisco's online grant platform to customise and track performance metrics during the grant period.

16. Cisco's Overhead Requirement

Cisco generally requires an organisation's overhead to remain at or below:

25%.

There can be exceptions.

However, Cisco says an organisation seeking an exception should demonstrate exceptional alignment with its criteria and clearly justify the overhead costs.

Exceptions are determined individually.

Applicants should therefore review their organisational financial structure before investing substantial time in an application.

17. What Cisco Foundation Grants Do Not Fund

Not every charitable activity qualifies.

Cisco lists several excluded programme types.

These include:

• Individuals
• Research programmes
• Membership-based activities
• General operating expenses unrelated to the programme
• Political organisations
• Sectarian organisations
• Certain religious activities
• Healthcare programmes focused on physical or mental health
• Hospitals
• Scholarships
• School-related activities
• Conferences
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Festivals
• Fundraising events
• Sponsorships
• Capital building funds
• Grant-making organisations

Some categories contain exceptions or additional conditions.

For example, a direct-service programme operated by a faith-based organisation may potentially qualify even though religious or sectarian activities themselves are excluded.

Applicants should therefore read the full grant-giving policies before concluding that their organisation or programme is eligible.

18. Does Cisco Fund Healthcare Programmes?

Generally, healthcare-focused programmes are excluded from the Global Impact Cash Grant programme.

Cisco specifically lists programmes focused on improving:

Physical or mental health

among ineligible areas.

Hospitals, hospital foundations and medical centres are also generally excluded.

There can be limited circumstances where a community-based programme associated with a hospital may qualify.

However, the funding would need to support eligible direct community services rather than hospital operations.

19. Does Cisco Fund Universities?

Generally, Cisco says it does not tend to make Global Impact Cash Grants to:

Colleges and universities.

Traditional school and university funding is also included among the programme's exclusions.

Universities should therefore not assume that the Global Impact Cash Grant programme is an ordinary academic research grant.

Research programmes are also specifically excluded.

20. Does Cisco Fund Computer Equipment?

Generally, Cisco does not use Global Impact Cash Grants simply to purchase:

• Computer hardware
• Software

However, Cisco says such expenditure may sometimes be considered where technology resources are used in a strategically innovative way that substantially extends programme impact.

Applicants also need to demonstrate that they explored more cost-effective alternatives, including in-kind donations.

Cisco separately operates a:

Technology Grant Program

for qualifying nonprofits seeking Cisco technology.

Therefore, organisations primarily seeking networking or communications equipment should also examine the Technology Grant Program rather than assuming a cash grant is the best route.

21. Cisco Technology Grant Program

Cisco's Technology Grant Program provides Cisco technology to qualifying nonprofit organisations.

The objective is to help nonprofits improve:

• Productivity
• Security
• Scalability
• Cost efficiency

The programme focuses on the same broad social investment areas as Cisco's cash grants:

• Climate Resilience
• Crisis Response
• Economic Opportunity
• Education

Cisco currently provides two main application pathways.

Larger or more complex requests can be handled directly through Cisco.

Smaller and more routine donations are handled through TechSoup in selected countries.

Organisations should check the country availability and programme rules before applying.

22. How to Apply for Cisco Foundation Grants 2026

The Global Impact Cash Grant application process has several stages.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Applicants should first determine whether their programme aligns with Cisco's:

• Mission
• Funding sectors
• Grant requirements
• Grant-giving policies

Cisco provides an:

Eligibility Quiz for NPOs/NGOs.

This is the first formal step for nonprofit Global Impact Cash Grant applicants.

If the organisation successfully completes the quiz, it can proceed to the next stage.

Step 2: Submit a Letter of Inquiry

Eligible organisations submit a:

Letter of Inquiry

commonly called an:

LOI.

The LOI requests information about:

• The organisation
• Proposed programme
• Population served
• Programme budget

The LOI allows Cisco to determine whether the programme appears sufficiently aligned to justify a full proposal.

Submitting an LOI does not guarantee that the applicant will receive an invitation.

Step 3: Wait for Cisco's Initial Review

Cisco states that LOI review can take:

Up to one business quarter

or approximately:

Three months.

Applicants should therefore not expect an immediate decision.

Step 4: Invitation to Submit a Full Proposal

If Cisco determines that the LOI aligns strongly with its objectives, the organisation may receive an invitation to submit a:

Full grant proposal.

This stage is invitation-only.

Applicants should not confuse successful LOI submission with grant approval.

Step 5: Full Proposal Review

After the complete proposal is submitted, Cisco states that applicants can generally expect a decision within:

One business quarter.

Again, an invitation to submit a full proposal does not guarantee funding.

23. Can You Submit More Than One Letter of Inquiry?

Cisco currently states that there is:

No fixed limit

on the number of LOIs an organisation can submit.

However, Cisco encourages applicants to be selective.

Submitting numerous poorly aligned concepts is unlikely to improve an organisation's chances.

A better approach is to submit the programme that most clearly fits Cisco's criteria.

24. Board Approval Is Required

Cisco also requires applicants to certify that:

The board chairperson or at least one officer of the organisation's board has reviewed the grant proposal.

The board should be aware of and support the application.

Applicants also certify:

• Accuracy of the proposal
• Compliance with Cisco policies

This means grant applications should not be prepared and submitted informally without appropriate organisational oversight.

25. Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants should expect performance monitoring.

Cisco requires funded organisations to use its online grant platform to establish and track programme metrics.

Meaningful participation in performance tracking is required for continued funding eligibility.

Organisations should therefore have systems capable of collecting information about:

• Beneficiaries
• Activities
• Outputs
• Outcomes
• Programme performance

Monitoring and evaluation should be considered during programme design rather than added after funding is received.

Is Cisco Foundation Grants 2026 Still Open?

Yes, for the Global Impact Cash Grant pathway.

Cisco's current programme information states that eligible organisations can submit applications:

Year-round.

The process begins through the online eligibility pathway and Letter of Inquiry.

There is therefore:

No single 2026 closing date

for the Global Impact Cash Grant programme.

However, applicants should always check the programme page immediately before submitting because Cisco states that its grant policies and requirements can change.

Can Nigerian NGOs Apply in 2026?

Potentially, yes.

Cisco's programme operates internationally and explicitly provides eligibility requirements for organisations outside the United States.

A Nigerian organisation would need to provide information allowing Cisco to determine whether it is equivalent to a U.S. public charity.

It would also need to demonstrate that:

1. It is an eligible nonprofit or NGO.
2. Its programme falls within an eligible investment sector.
3. More than 65% of the target audience is economically underserved.
4. Technology meaningfully improves programme reach or efficiency.
5. The programme has measurable outcomes.
6. The approach is innovative.
7. The programme is scalable and replicable.
8. The organisation meets Cisco's financial and policy requirements.

Therefore, Nigerian registration alone does not guarantee eligibility.

The programme itself is a major part of the assessment.

What Should Nigerian Applicants Prepare?

Before beginning the eligibility process, an organisation should clearly document:

The social problem

What specific problem is being addressed?

Target population

Who will benefit?

Economic need

How will the organisation demonstrate that more than 65% of beneficiaries are economically underserved?

Technology

How will technology improve programme delivery?

Innovation

What makes the solution different?

Scale

Could the model expand beyond the initial community?

Metrics

How will success be measured?

Sustainability

What happens when Cisco funding ends?

Budget

How much is required and why?

Leadership

Does the organisation have the management capacity to deliver?

Strong answers to these questions can help determine whether an organisation is genuinely ready to submit an LOI.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Requesting More Than $100,000 as a First-Time Recipient

Cisco currently limits first-time Global Impact Cash Grant requests to:

US$100,000.

Ignoring the 65% Requirement

The programme should serve an audience that is more than 65% economically underserved.

Submitting a Generic NGO Proposal

Cisco has specific priorities.

Tailor the proposal to the actual Global Impact Cash Grant requirements.

Treating Technology as an Afterthought

Technology should contribute meaningfully to programme efficiency, reach or impact.

Providing Weak Metrics

Statements such as:

"We will empower communities"

are difficult to measure.

Use specific outcomes and indicators.

Ignoring Scalability

Explain how the programme can expand or be replicated.

Applying for an Excluded Activity

Check Cisco's exclusions before preparing the proposal.

Assuming an LOI Means You Have Received Funding

The LOI is only an initial screening stage.

A full proposal is submitted only after invitation.

Cisco Foundation Grants 2026 Funding Summary

Area	Details
Main Open Programme	Global Impact Cash Grant Program
First-Time Maximum Request	US$100,000
Applicant Type	NPOs and NGOs
International Applicants	Potentially eligible
Nigerian NGOs	Potentially eligible
Crisis Response	Supported
Education	Supported
Economic Empowerment	Supported
Climate Resilience	Supported
Economically Underserved Requirement	More than 65%
Technology	Important evaluation criterion
Overhead	Generally maximum 25%
Initial Stage	Eligibility Quiz
Second Stage	Letter of Inquiry
Full Application	By invitation
LOI Review	Up to approximately 3 months
Application Deadline	No fixed deadline
Applications	Accepted year-round

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Cisco Foundation Grants?

Cisco Foundation grants support eligible organisations developing scalable solutions to social and environmental challenges.

One of the main international opportunities is the Global Impact Cash Grant Program.

How much can a first-time organisation request?

The maximum request for a first-time Global Impact Cash Grant recipient is:

US$100,000.

Does Cisco offer a universal $100,000 maximum?

No.

The official requirement specifically states that first-time grant recipients have a maximum request amount of $100,000.

Applicants should not present $100,000 as the universal maximum for every existing Cisco grantee.

Are Cisco Foundation Grants open in 2026?

Yes.

The Global Impact Cash Grant programme currently accepts applications year-round from eligible organisations.

What is the 2026 deadline?

There is no single annual deadline for Global Impact Cash Grants.

Eligible organisations can begin the process throughout the year.

Can Nigerian NGOs apply?

Potentially, yes.

Cisco provides an eligibility pathway for organisations outside the United States.

International organisations must provide documentation enabling Cisco to determine whether they are equivalent to a U.S. public charity.

Can Nigerian startups apply?

The Global Impact Cash Grant pathway is intended for nonprofit and nongovernmental organisations.

However, Cisco separately has climate impact-investment pathways for eligible for-profit climate organisations.

A conventional for-profit startup should therefore not apply through the nonprofit grant pathway unless it satisfies the relevant legal requirements.

What sectors are funded?

The four priority social-impact sectors are:

• Crisis Response
• Education
• Economic Empowerment
• Climate Resilience

Can an education NGO apply?

Potentially, yes.

However, Cisco excludes many traditional school, scholarship and university activities.

The organisation should carefully review the education eligibility requirements.

Does Cisco fund healthcare projects?

Healthcare programmes focused on improving physical or mental health are generally excluded from Global Impact Cash Grants.

Does Cisco fund research?

Research programmes are listed among the ineligible activities.

Does Cisco fund conferences?

Conferences, seminars and similar events are generally excluded.

Can universities apply?

Cisco states that it does not tend to make Global Impact Cash Grants to colleges and universities.

Applicants should examine other Cisco programmes or funding opportunities where appropriate.

Does Cisco fund equipment?

Global Impact Cash Grants generally do not finance routine computer hardware or software purchases.

Cisco may consider certain strategically innovative technology needs under limited conditions.

It also operates a separate Technology Grant Program.

What percentage of beneficiaries must be economically underserved?

More than:

65%.

This is measured relative to average standards in the target geography.

What is the maximum overhead allowed?

Cisco generally requires organisational overhead not to exceed:

25%.

Limited exceptions can be considered case by case.

What is a Cisco Letter of Inquiry?

The Letter of Inquiry, or LOI, is the initial grant concept submitted after an organisation successfully completes Cisco's eligibility quiz.

It provides information about the organisation, programme, beneficiaries and budget.

Does submitting an LOI guarantee funding?

No.

Cisco reviews the LOI and decides whether to invite the organisation to submit a full proposal.

How long does Cisco take to review an LOI?

Cisco states that LOI review can take up to:

One business quarter, or approximately three months.

Can I submit multiple LOIs?

Cisco currently states that there is no fixed limit.

However, organisations are encouraged to submit only their most strongly aligned programmes.

How do I apply?

Applicants should begin with Cisco's official Global Impact Cash Grant eligibility process.

Cisco Global Impact Cash Grant Program

Final Takeaway

The Cisco Foundation Grants 2026 provide a potentially valuable international funding opportunity for nonprofits and NGOs developing innovative solutions to major social challenges.

The main programme for organisations seeking international cash funding is the:

Global Impact Cash Grant Program.

It focuses on four areas:

Crisis Response

Education

Economic Empowerment

Climate Resilience

For organisations receiving a Global Impact Cash Grant for the first time, the maximum request is:

US$100,000.

Applicants should be careful with this figure.

Cisco does not describe $100,000 as a universal maximum for every organisation.

It specifically applies to:

First-time grant recipients.

For Nigerian organisations, international participation is possible.

Cisco explicitly provides requirements for nonprofits located outside the United States.

However, international organisations need to provide sufficient documentation for Cisco to determine whether they are equivalent to a U.S. public charity.

The proposed programme must also meet important conditions.

More than:

65% of the target audience

should be economically underserved relative to the target geography.

The programme should make meaningful and innovative use of technology.

It should have measurable results.

It should be capable of being replicated and scaled.

And it should demonstrate how impact can continue beyond Cisco's initial financial support.

Applicants should also check the exclusions carefully.

Traditional healthcare programmes, research projects, scholarships, conferences, fundraising events and several other activities are generally outside the Global Impact Cash Grant programme.

Most importantly, there is currently no need to wait for a special annual deadline.

The Global Impact Cash Grant Program accepts eligible applications year-round.

The process begins with:

Eligibility Quiz → Letter of Inquiry → Cisco Review → Invitation to Full Proposal → Full Proposal Review.

For a Nigerian NGO considering the opportunity, the strongest first step is therefore not immediately writing a long proposal.

First determine whether the organisation and programme satisfy Cisco's requirements.

Then define the target population, establish the economic-underserved criteria, explain the role of technology, develop measurable indicators and demonstrate how the solution can scale.

Only after those fundamentals are clear should the organisation proceed with its Letter of Inquiry.