For answers to general questions about TechSoup Stock registration, donation processing, request status, shipping, and more, please consult our main FAQ.
General
What is the Cisco Donation Program at TechSoup Stock? A wide variety of networking equipment is available for donation to nonprofits through TechSoup Stock, thanks to a generous donation from Cisco.
Cisco and TechSoup Stock's goals are (1) to reach nonprofits seeking networking equipment; (2) to get them the information and support needed to make informed networking choices; and (3) to help nonprofits get the most from their implementations of networking technology products.
How can I find out if my organization is eligible? Please review the Cisco eligibility requirements to determine whether your organization is eligible to participate in the program.
If after reviewing these guidelines, you still have questions
about your organization's eligibility, please email us
at cisco@TechSoup.org
or call us at (800) 659-3579 x700 or (415) 633-9300 x700.
How is this different from the Cisco Product Donation Grant Program?
The Cisco Donation Program at TechSoup Stock offers standard networking products to all qualifying nonprofit organizations for a small administrative fee. The Cisco Product Donation Grant Program offers individual, nonstandard networking bundles as donations to select nonprofits.
For the Cisco Product Donation Grant Program, specific criteria for nonstandard product grants must be met before registration and approval can begin. For more information on the Cisco Product Donation Grant program, visit www.cisco.com/go/philanthropy/.
What happens after I request a donation? All Cisco donation requests are subject to approval, which takes less than a week if TechSoup Stock has all necessary qualification information from your organization. You can expect the order to be completely fulfilled within 6 to 8 weeks of the approval date.
Orders may be partially fulfilled: Due to the nature of the network design, product availability, and fiscal year schedules, all product donations are subject to change or delay without notice. Cisco reserves the right to substitute functionally equivalent products for any request.
Should I hire a consultant to help with installation? Unless you have a devoted networking or IT professional on staff, it is highly recommended that you hire a consultant. Installation is not included in the administrative fee for your networking equipment.
How can I find a qualified consultant? For more information about hiring a consultant, review our resources on Consultants.
What sort of technical support will my organization receive? All Cisco products except Linksys equipment include five years of Cisco SMARTnet service and support on both hardware and software. After that coverage expires, donation recipients are strongly encouraged to renew their SMARTnet service and support agreement annually (at their own expense) for as long as they own the equipment or until that equipment is declared End Of Life (EOL) and no longer supported by Cisco. (PCMCIA and PCI cards alone do not require a SMARTnet contract.)
What is the returns policy for Cisco donations? If you want to return a Cisco product, email cisco@techsoup.org with "CISCO RETURN REQUEST" as the subject line and include the following:
Your organization name
Your TechSoup order number
Return reason
Our Cisco Program representative will review your request and get in touch with you to make arrangements for the return.
Please note: To receive a refund or to exchange products ordered through the Cisco Donation Program, items should be returned within 60 days of delivery.
We highly recommend visiting the Community Discussions at TechSoup to find answers to your technology questions. Many people working with nonprofits on technology solutions frequent these message boards, and you can often get quick and useful response to questions there.
Cisco also has general networking information on its Web site.
Are any services available for recycling and disposal of Cisco products? Cisco is a green company. Donated Cisco products that are no longer useful or have reached the end of life can be returned to Cisco through the Takeback and Recycle program.
How can I find out more about Cisco? Cisco is a leading provider of networking solutions, and numerous articles have been written in the press about its products. Cisco Systems Corporate Philanthropy is committed to providing the resources its communities need to prosper, while educating its coworkers about the challenges facing those communities. Corporate Philanthropy includes the Cisco Foundation and the Community Investment group. Cisco's partnerships with nonprofits give them access to technology solutions and leverage the power of the Internet, allowing them to focus on the individuals they serve.
Information on Cisco and Cisco Systems Corporate Philanthropy is available at its Web site, http://www.cisco.com.
I have other questions. How can I get additional assistance?
Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is available to help
you every step of the way. If you have any questions,
concerns or ideas you would like to share, please email
us at cisco@techsoup.org,
or call (800) 659-3579 x700 or (415) 633-9300 x700. Our
customer service staff is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific
time. We look forward to hearing from you!
For general networking questions, you can also get additional assistance by visiting the Community Discussions on TechSoup. Many people working with nonprofits on technology solutions frequent these message boards, and you can often get a quick and useful response to questions there.
What is the Cisco Donation Program at TechSoup Stock?