In 1991, the United States designated April as National Volunteer Month. Over time, this initiative has grown into what is now celebrated globally as Volunteer Month. Since Cisco was founded four decades ago, community service has been a core part of its values.
At Cisco, giving back isn’t just encouraged—it’s embedded in the culture. Numerous programs are in place to support this spirit of service, and employees enthusiastically contribute to causes they care about, with the company standing firmly behind their efforts.
When Employees Volunteer, Cisco Contributes
Cisco’s industry-leading Matching Gifts Program amplifies employee contributions by matching eligible cash and stock donations up to $10,000 annually. In addition to financial gifts, the program also acknowledges volunteer hours—offering $10 per hour volunteered to the nonprofit receiving the employee’s time.
In fiscal year 2024, Cisco employees collectively volunteered 720,000 hours, with many choosing to have those hours matched through the program, resulting in donations to their chosen organizations.
For instance, in Kraków, employees collaborated with the Hearty Foundation, which works to enhance education and social services for children. They ran workshops on cybersecurity, programming, and digital literacy, and hosted a day-long STEM event. Their 36 hours of volunteer time translated into a $3,600 donation from Cisco.
In London, the Meraki Gives EMEA team held a virtual event with the Psychiatry Research Trust, attracting global participation. Attendees learned about groundbreaking mental health research and the significance of building resilient communities. According to Racha Tfaili, Global Co-lead of Meraki Gives, Cisco’s $10-per-hour volunteer match added meaningful support, raising over $3,500 for the organization.
Opportunities All Year Round
Cisco’s Community Impact Portal offers employees a platform to find or create volunteer events, whether in-person, virtual, or team-based. From helping at food banks to supporting tech education camps, employees get involved in a wide range of causes.
“Every member of our customer engineering team volunteered in FY24,” shared Monica Huerta Castillo, Customer Delivery Leader. “The Community Impact Portal made it easier for us to discover opportunities. Our team volunteered in various formats—from remote support to hands-on fieldwork. It’s an extension of our values—trust, humility, empathy, and curiosity—and it brings us closer as a team.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Cisco is launching a quarterly Global Week of Giving, making it even easier for employees to get involved. Originally started by one business unit, this initiative has expanded to involve the entire company, partnering with community organizations in key areas such as education, food security, sustainability, and poverty alleviation.
Paid Time Off to Give Back
Cisco’s Time2Give benefit offers employees up to 10 paid days per year to volunteer. Some use it for extended service trips abroad, while others choose to volunteer locally or offer professional skills like coding or legal expertise to nonprofits.
Executive Assistant Stella Au, based in New York, used her Time2Give to travel to Vietnam with six Cisco colleagues from Australia, where they helped build a home for two sisters. “I swapped my laptop for construction tools,” she said. “When one of the sisters cried with joy knowing she had a safe place to live, I realized we weren’t just building a house—we were building hope. I’m grateful Cisco gave me the chance to be part of something so meaningful.”
Every Effort Counts
In 2016, Cisco set a goal for 80% of employees to volunteer at least once a year by 2020—and has consistently met that benchmark since. The company recognizes that giving back takes many forms, from organized events to everyday acts of kindness. The Cisco Citizen initiative tracks and celebrates these diverse contributions that may not fall under other programs.
In FY24, Cisco once again reached the 80% mark, with 70,000 employees around the world participating in volunteer activities.
Digital Marketing Manager Vivien Chia, who also leads the Green Team Network for APJC, emphasized the power of collective action: “It’s incredible to work for a company that prioritizes both employee wellbeing and global impact. Programs like Time2Give and the Matching Gifts Program allow us to create real change. With business support, the potential for good becomes even greater.”
United for a Greater Good
Through their efforts, Cisco employees have cultivated a culture rooted in service. This collective dedication allows the company to provide more support to nonprofits, respond faster in times of crisis, and create broader positive change.
As part of Global Volunteer Month, Cisco celebrates all the meaningful ways its people contribute to a better world.
At Cisco, giving back isn’t just encouraged—it’s embedded in the culture. Numerous programs are in place to support this spirit of service, and employees enthusiastically contribute to causes they care about, with the company standing firmly behind their efforts.
When Employees Volunteer, Cisco Contributes
Cisco’s industry-leading Matching Gifts Program amplifies employee contributions by matching eligible cash and stock donations up to $10,000 annually. In addition to financial gifts, the program also acknowledges volunteer hours—offering $10 per hour volunteered to the nonprofit receiving the employee’s time.
In fiscal year 2024, Cisco employees collectively volunteered 720,000 hours, with many choosing to have those hours matched through the program, resulting in donations to their chosen organizations.
For instance, in Kraków, employees collaborated with the Hearty Foundation, which works to enhance education and social services for children. They ran workshops on cybersecurity, programming, and digital literacy, and hosted a day-long STEM event. Their 36 hours of volunteer time translated into a $3,600 donation from Cisco.
In London, the Meraki Gives EMEA team held a virtual event with the Psychiatry Research Trust, attracting global participation. Attendees learned about groundbreaking mental health research and the significance of building resilient communities. According to Racha Tfaili, Global Co-lead of Meraki Gives, Cisco’s $10-per-hour volunteer match added meaningful support, raising over $3,500 for the organization.
Opportunities All Year Round
Cisco’s Community Impact Portal offers employees a platform to find or create volunteer events, whether in-person, virtual, or team-based. From helping at food banks to supporting tech education camps, employees get involved in a wide range of causes.
“Every member of our customer engineering team volunteered in FY24,” shared Monica Huerta Castillo, Customer Delivery Leader. “The Community Impact Portal made it easier for us to discover opportunities. Our team volunteered in various formats—from remote support to hands-on fieldwork. It’s an extension of our values—trust, humility, empathy, and curiosity—and it brings us closer as a team.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Cisco is launching a quarterly Global Week of Giving, making it even easier for employees to get involved. Originally started by one business unit, this initiative has expanded to involve the entire company, partnering with community organizations in key areas such as education, food security, sustainability, and poverty alleviation.
Paid Time Off to Give Back
Cisco’s Time2Give benefit offers employees up to 10 paid days per year to volunteer. Some use it for extended service trips abroad, while others choose to volunteer locally or offer professional skills like coding or legal expertise to nonprofits.
Executive Assistant Stella Au, based in New York, used her Time2Give to travel to Vietnam with six Cisco colleagues from Australia, where they helped build a home for two sisters. “I swapped my laptop for construction tools,” she said. “When one of the sisters cried with joy knowing she had a safe place to live, I realized we weren’t just building a house—we were building hope. I’m grateful Cisco gave me the chance to be part of something so meaningful.”
Every Effort Counts
In 2016, Cisco set a goal for 80% of employees to volunteer at least once a year by 2020—and has consistently met that benchmark since. The company recognizes that giving back takes many forms, from organized events to everyday acts of kindness. The Cisco Citizen initiative tracks and celebrates these diverse contributions that may not fall under other programs.
In FY24, Cisco once again reached the 80% mark, with 70,000 employees around the world participating in volunteer activities.
Digital Marketing Manager Vivien Chia, who also leads the Green Team Network for APJC, emphasized the power of collective action: “It’s incredible to work for a company that prioritizes both employee wellbeing and global impact. Programs like Time2Give and the Matching Gifts Program allow us to create real change. With business support, the potential for good becomes even greater.”
United for a Greater Good
Through their efforts, Cisco employees have cultivated a culture rooted in service. This collective dedication allows the company to provide more support to nonprofits, respond faster in times of crisis, and create broader positive change.
As part of Global Volunteer Month, Cisco celebrates all the meaningful ways its people contribute to a better world.