Cisco Learning Institute was formed and funded by Cisco Systems, Inc as a nonprofit corporation (public charity) to develop e-learning enhancements for educational and charitable institutions and programs. Among those programs is the Cisco Networking Academy Program, which currently serves more than 10,182 educational institutions in 149 countries.

CLI is part of a worldwide collaboration among educational institutions, business enterprises, governments, local communities, and foundations to make e-learning an effective, productive path to knowledge and skill.