In 2021, the Cisco Foundation committed to deploying $100 million in grants and impact investments over ten years to strengthen climate resilience and promote sustainability. Building on its legacy of innovation and community impact, the Foundation aimed to both protect communities from severe weather and support the creation of a stable, resilient, and prosperous future. Four years into this commitment, nearly half of the funding has been deployed, highlighting the importance of flexibility, continual learning, and adaptation to a rapidly changing landscape shaped by technological innovation and evolving climate challenges.
The Foundation has learned that financing tools must fill gaps intentionally, addressing areas where traditional capital falls short. Its climate resilience grants portfolio focuses on four pillars: nature preservation and restoration, regenerative and resilient agriculture, climate finance, and education and action. These pillars guide investments in early-stage innovations and systemic solutions, ensuring that funding not only supports immediate impact but also drives scalable and sustained climate solutions.
Measuring impact is critical to realizing the Foundation’s vision. Each grantee selects key performance indicators aligned with global goals such as protecting 30 percent of land and water by 2030 or multiplying climate mitigation funding fivefold by 2030. Data-driven approaches capture outcomes in carbon storage, biodiversity, and livelihoods, while storytelling highlights local knowledge, ingenuity, and relationships that contribute to lasting change. Transparent reporting also encourages additional funding and collective action across the sector.
Technology plays a central role in scaling the Foundation’s efforts. Tech-enabled solutions improve connectivity, reach, and efficiency across initiatives. Local data collection tools, remote sensing technologies, open-source data platforms, and AI-powered digital trainings enable more informed decisions and accelerate climate resilience efforts. By integrating technology responsibly, the Foundation enhances monitoring, analytics, and adaptive learning for communities and ecosystems.
Climate resilience is treated as an intersectional theme that connects environmental, social, and economic well-being. Programs promote economic empowerment through low-carbon job creation, strengthen crisis response via climate-resilient infrastructure, and enhance education with practical resources on environmental challenges. Initiatives such as Solar Sister, Build Change, and WorldLink demonstrate how climate resilience intersects with livelihoods, gender equity, and community education.
Looking ahead, the Cisco Foundation remains committed to its vision of inclusive, resilient, and empowered communities. Guided by humility, learning, and collective potential, the Foundation plans to continue strategic grantmaking, leveraging technology and partnerships to advance climate resilience, social equity, and sustainable growth while adapting to emerging challenges and opportunities.
