When you blend technology with social good, magic happens—especially in a country like India, where rapid development meets deep-rooted challenges. That’s exactly what Cisco is doing through its impactful India Cash Grant Program. It’s not just about funding—it’s about changing lives using tech, innovation, and heart.
What’s the Big Idea?
Cisco, a global tech giant, rolled up its sleeves and decided to tackle some of India’s most pressing issues—education gaps, lack of healthcare access, economic inequality, and more.
How? By teaming up with NGOs and foundations already doing great work on the ground. Together, they’re delivering real-world solutions using smart technology and strategic funding.
Cisco’s Superhero Partnerships: Stepping Up During Crises
Cisco’s commitment to supporting communities during times of crisis is exemplified through its impactful partnerships. With the Akshaya Patra Foundation, Cisco has helped serve over 2.5 lakh students, digitalize seven kitchen facilities, and provide 600,000 meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to vital aid during the 2015 Chennai floods. In a crucial public health initiative, Cisco collaborated with ActionAid India to deliver 2.6 lakh vaccine doses across rural Tamil Nadu, reaching areas like Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Dharmapuri.
In the healthcare sector, Cisco and Piramal Swasthya developed “Nirmaya,” a digital health project in Assam that focuses on telemedicine and diagnostics, aiming to assist 1 lakh patients this year. Similarly, Cisco partnered with Save the Children to launch “Pratiraksha,” a project that has successfully vaccinated over 2.5 lakh children in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur and Shravasti districts. To enhance health monitoring, Cisco co-created DiceFlow with Swasti – The Health Catalyst, a digital data tool now utilized by over 33 organizations. During the devastating second wave of COVID-19 in India, Cisco and United Way Delhi supplied critical medical equipment, including ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and pulse oximeters, across Delhi NCR and Bangalore.
From Farmers to Future Founders: Powering Economic Growth
| Economic Partner | Impact in Action |
| The Nudge Institute | Through the Cisco Agri Challenge, aims to empower 10 million+ farmers with sustainable income in 5 years. |
| Krishi Mangal | Boosts agri-startups and smallholder farmers, creating jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in rural India. |
| Quest Alliance | Helped 115,000 students improve job skills via ITIs in 6 states. 26,000+ got full-time jobs! |
| thingQbator | A platform for students to build and pitch tech ideas—over 40,000 learners, 2,000+ innovations launched! |
Cisco in Classrooms: Making Education Click
Cisco is also profoundly impacting education through strategic collaborations, making learning more accessible and engaging. With the Akshara Foundation, Cisco built “BuildingBlocks,” a collection of fun, interactive math games designed for students in Grades 1-5 in Bangalore. The Center for Networked Intelligence, supported by Cisco, is focused on enhancing how devices and data converge to generate actionable insights for social good.
To bridge the digital divide in education, Cisco partnered with Gooru India to create offline learning tools, benefiting over 25,000 students and 1,500 teachers in low-connectivity zones. Through project “Ekalavya,” Cisco and Indus Action have supported the Right to Education by developing helplines, data systems, and government dashboards. Cisco’s collaboration with Leadership For Equity (LFE) led to the LEAD course, a blended learning program that trains education officers, powered by Cisco.
Furthermore, a partnership with the Meghshala Foundation has provided 35,000 students with digital kits, offering immersive learning experiences through videos, games, and interactive content. Cisco and Pratham Books created StoryWeaver, an open-source platform featuring over 2,000 libraries and offering stories in more than 300 languages. Lastly, Cisco and the Sikshana Foundation designed “Prerana 2.0,” which, through its CLAP modules, has significantly improved math skills for over 1.8 million students in government schools.
Who Can Apply?
If you’re a changemaker, here’s your shot! Cisco wants to partner with those who are already making a difference—or have the vision to.
Eligible Applicants:
- Registered Non-Profit Organizations (NGOs)
- Social enterprises with a non-profit arm
- Organizations with tech-driven, scalable solutions for social challenges
How to Apply (It’s Pretty Simple)
- Submit Your Proposal: Include your project plan, goals, expected outcomes, and budget on Cisco’s online grant portal.
- Get Reviewed: The grant committee looks at impact, scalability, and sustainability.
- Get Funded: If selected, Cisco provides funding + tech expertise + partnership support.
Final Thoughts: Tech with Purpose
Cisco’s India Cash Grant Program is a glowing example of how technology, when used with empathy and purpose, can transform lives. Whether it’s feeding kids, training teachers, empowering farmers, or launching youth-led startups—this initiative is making a difference, one partnership at a time.
And the best part? They’re just getting started.
