Tech Citizenship

For the second year, Cisco Systems Inc. has published its Corporate Citizenship Report, which addresses stakeholder concerns on the company’s practices and commitment to employees, the environment and society.

“It is a recognition that businesses are not only responsible to shareholders, but also to other members of society,” said Adrian Godfrey, director of corporate citizenship for the California-based networking giant, which maintains a large presence in Massachusetts.

Godfrey is already working on next year’s report and plans to be more aggressive by not only explaining what Cisco has done but how it is engaged in long-term goals.

The report is the result of a deep commitment of the company to philanthropy.

“We want to use our technology to make life better,” said Godfrey.

The culture of giving back to society is embedded in all levels of management in the company, he said, and the employees at the local level are the ones who decide where the contributions go, guided by a council that makes sure the support goes to the most appropriate groups or causes.

Most of the activities the company supports are related to education. “We believe it is a platform for social development,” said Godfrey.

“We have a very specific relationship with nonprofits — we help them deliver their mission better, just the same way we do with our business clients,” said Godfrey.

The relationship is not only based on cash contributions but it usually includes volunteer programs for employees who give their time.

Some of the recipients of Cisco’s charitable activities include the Education Collaborative for Greater Boston Inc., The Carroll Center for the Blind, Center for Women and Enterprise, and Boston’s Museum of Science.

In 2005 the company gave $35 million in cash contributions — in 2006 that amount was up to $78.8 million. The increase was due to the acquisitions the company has completed during the last year, Godfrey said.

During the year, the company launched its 21st Century Schools initiative, which aims to create a transferable model for education reform. The first program has been implemented in school districts affected by Hurricane Katrina. So far Cisco is pleased with the results.

“It’s been fantastic. It is a long-term program, but we have already seen social and economic outcomes,” said Godfrey.

Cisco is a multinational corporation with offices around the world, but it has managed to spread its philanthropic philosophy to all of its local branches. For example, in Egypt and in the Indian state of Rajasthan, the company this year launched the Global Education Initiative, with the goal of establishing a sustainable, technology-driven model of education reform.

In Africa, Cisco has contributed people, equipment and financial resources to deliver information and communications technology education as part of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

Citizenship Facts

Cisco Systems Inc.

Total cash contributions in New England in 2005: $35M

Number of volunteer hours in New England in 2005: 235,000

In-kind contributions of equipment and services in New England: $29M

Principal recipients of charitable activities in 2005: The Carroll Center for the Blind; Center for Women and Enterprise; Citizens for International Understanding; Common Impact; Connectivity Partners International; Crossroads for Kids Inc.; DonorsChoose; Education Collaborative for Greater Boston Inc.; Futures for Kids; Habitat for Humanity International; Interactive Health Network; Museum of Science

Interesting philanthropic activities: In July 2000, Cisco partnered with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations Development Program, and the United Nations Volunteers to launch the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Initiative, to help LDCs accelerate progress, attain sustainable development, and integrate into the global economy through greater access to IT-training.

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