Cisco's Volunteer Connection System (Service Grant) is now worldwide!  Cisco is leveraging online technology to bring community volunteering opportunities to nonprofits and its employees in an accessible, web-based application. The volunteer connection system matches individual employees and employee teams to philanthropic opportunities in their communities, anywhere in the world. In addition, it will also match the skills and experience our employees have with nonprofit organizations that are seeking specific expertise for themselves or their constituents.

A few examples of the skills included are technology, marketing, leadership and human resources.

We welcome "virtual" opportunities as well.

Examples of common "virtual" requests include: reviewing written material such as a brochure or content for a website on-line; helping with the development of a business strategy over the phone; technical trouble shooting.

You are welcome to register your organization in our system:
http://cisco.cybergrants.com/sgrquiz

Once you're in the application, you may request Cisco volunteers for your specific initiatives. (If an appropriate volunteer is matched at some point, you will be notified by email with instructions on how to proceed). We welcome one time events as well as on-going opportunities, tactical or strategic.

Cisco also matches volunteer hours with cash to those organizations who qualify: http://cisco.com/en/US/about/ac48/about_cisco_matching_gifts_programs.html

We hope this system will give your organization access to more volunteers and will save you time in recruiting, tracking, managing, and communicating with those volunteers.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please send them to Barbara Jones at bajones@cisco.com .