At Cisco, giving back isn’t just something we do—it’s part of who we are. Our culture of service is deeply embedded in our identity and has become a powerful driver of employee engagement, innovation, and impact. Central to this is our 80% Blueprint, a bold initiative that transformed employee giving from a 37% participation rate to over 80%—a milestone we’ve now surpassed for five consecutive years.
This journey began with an audacious goal: to engage employees in making an impact in their communities and to help them make giving a habit. We didn’t just want to increase participation—we wanted to create exponential impact. Through a combination of behavioral science, digital tools, and purpose-driven leadership, we built a scalable model that empowers employees to take action in service of others. The result? A thriving culture where 70,000 employees contributed over 720,000 volunteer hours and raised $35 million in fiscal year 2024 alone.
We’ve captured this journey in our 80% Blueprint eBook, which shares the strategies, lessons, and frameworks that helped us achieve this transformation. It’s a resource for any organization looking to engage employees in meaningful ways and build a culture of Purpose. In an age defined by technology and constant change, we believe the most important connections we can make are human ones—and giving back is one way we strengthen them.
Our success is powered by programs like Time2Give, which offers employees up to 10 paid days annually to volunteer. Whether it’s building homes in Vietnam, teaching digital skills in Poland, or cleaning rivers in Canada, our people are making a difference around the world. Our Community Impact Portal makes it easy for employees to find and organize volunteer opportunities, while our Matching Gifts Program amplifies impact by matching donations and volunteer hours with financial contributions.
Our Global Week of Giving has been a quarterly initiative that unites employees across regions and departments to serve communities in areas like education, sustainability, and food security. And through initiatives like Earth Aware, SustainX, and the Green Team Network, we’re engaging employees in sustainability and clean energy efforts year-round.
To further explore how data, technology, and Purpose intersect to drive engagement, Cisco recently partnered with CECP for a BrightTALK webinar titled “Unlocking the Future of Employee Engagement.” The session dives into how our 80% Blueprint, as well as CECP’s Giving in Numbers research, reveals the exponential value of aligning corporate purpose with employee action. It’s a must-watch for leaders looking to future-proof their culture and workforce.
A three-year internal study confirmed what we’ve long believed: employees who engage in community impact perform better, stay longer, and feel more fulfilled. Giving back isn’t just good for the world—it’s good for business.
As we look to the future, we’re committed to sharing our blueprint with others. Because when companies empower their people to serve, they don’t just build stronger teams—they build a better world.