Athens FAQs

Program Basics

What is Gifted Savings?

Gifted Savings is a nonprofit that gives high school seniors a real $1,000 investment portfolio and teaches them how to understand and grow it. Through short lessons and reflection activities, you'll learn how money, investing, and planning can support your goals—not just now, but for the long term.

Who built Gifted Savings and why?

Gifted Savings was founded by Farhad Mohit, a successful tech entrepreneur who’s now focused full-time on philanthropy and social impact. After building multiple tech companies serving billions of people — like BizRate.com, Shopzilla, and Flipagram (now TikTok) — he shifted his energy toward projects to help humanity thrive—GoodParty.org to get independent elected and money out of politics, serving on the board of Burning Man Project, and cofounding the largest Iranian cultural foundation in the world, Farhang Foundation.

Farhad created Gifted Savings because he believes that every young person in the U.S. should have some ownership stake in America—a real investment portfolio that compounds over time, while helping them learn how money, investing and financial planning can help change their lives. He wanted to create a hands-on way for students to experience investing and financial decision-making, not just read about it.

Why did I get this?

You're part of a school selected to pilot Gifted Savings because we believe every young person deserves a chance to build wealth and learn financial skills early. Donors chose to invest in you because they believe in you and want to empower you with a meaningful financial head start.

What’s the catch?

There really isn’t one. Gifted Savings is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit—we don’t make money off students, charge fees, or earn anything from your investments. Our only goal is to help you learn how to invest and use this gift in a way that makes a difference in your life.

Questions about the application

Who’s eligible for the Walled Lake Central pilot?

In our high school program, recipients must be full-time students in their senior year at Walled Lake Central who are within 3x the federal poverty level.

What are you looking for in the application?

In order to receive Gifted Savings, seniors from Walled Lake Central must apply to Gifted Savings here and specify an inspirational dream that they would like to make come true with Gifted Savings.

In the application, we’re looking for thoughtful responses, an inspirational dream that recipients are prepared to take action towards, and a compelling reason why their dream matters and how it would make a positive impact.

We’re looking for applicants who can clearly articulate their dreams (who, what, where, why, and when) even if all the details of the “how” haven’t been figured out yet. In the application video, we’ll also be looking for seniors who are able to engage in storytelling through video and convey their authenticity through their story.

What types of dreams qualify for the Gifted Savings program?

We encourage dreams that are inspirational and genuinely meaningful to you. Your dream can be about improving your life, the lives of people around you, your community, or a cause you are passionate about. The key is to use your imagination for good and create a plan that we can help bring to life.

When sharing your dream in the application, it’s important to be thoughtful and provide context for how this dream will make a positive impact. At Gifted Savings, we believe the most inspirational dreams are ones that positively impact not just ourselves, but others as well.
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Example 1:
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“My dream is to start a mobile library where I can bring books to underserved neighborhoods in my area. I want to fill an old bus with books, sharing my love of reading with younger kids in the area and inspire a love of reading for kids who might not have access to books or have someone reading to them. To me, this project is about spreading joy, fostering education, and uniting communities through the power of books.

Example 2:
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"My dream is to go to art school and become a professional artist, something no one in my family has ever had the chance to do. This dream is huge for me because it's not just about doing what I love; it's about showing my younger siblings that big dreams are possible, no matter where you start from. Becoming successful in art could help me support my family and give back to my mom, who has sacrificed so much for us and has worked hard so that I can pursue my dreams."

Program overview

What’s the purpose of Gifted Savings?

Gifted Savings is a non-profit organization whose mission is to make the direct giving of wealth the simplest, most efficient and rewarding way to empower people and create diverse positive impacts. With Gifted Savings, donors give stocks and bitcoin directly to individuals who are empowered to decide how to use the funds.

Recipients can hold or sell their assets to further their personal aspirations, while donors can see the direct impact of their gift on individuals through videos uploaded by recipients.

In our high school program, we empower students by helping them take small steps towards a dream that they have, learn about assets and give them $1,000 in stocks and bitcoin.

Who are the donors? Why do they give?

Our donors come from all different backgrounds and walks of life. They give to Gifted Savings because they believe in giving back and empowering people to create opportunities for themselves and their communities.

If you’re interested in becoming a donor or know of someone who may be interested, please reach out to us at [email protected].

What are the requirements to receive Gifted Savings?

To gain access to the $1,000 in stocks and bitcoin, recipients must be chosen to join the program, graduate from high school and turn 18.

Once recipients turn 18, they will be able to access their funds and decide to withdraw or continue holding their Gifted Savings portfolio.

What is an action item?

Action items are steps towards achieving your dream. The Gifted Savings app will suggest various personalized action items, but it's up to recipients to decide which ones to act on. For an action item to be considered complete, each action item requires a short video sharing your reflections and experience.

For example:

If a recipient’s dream is to help more ESL students learn English, a potential action item may be to interview ESL students to learn the biggest areas of opportunity and need. Recipients would be asked to record a short video reflecting on their experience, and that would represent one potential action item.

How can I use my Gifted Savings portfolio?

Once you fulfill the program requirements, you get to decide how to use the money to fulfill your dream. You can cash out and get started on your dream right away or save it for a bigger plan down the road. The choice is yours, and we're excited to see the good you'll do.

Once you unlock your portfolio, you’ll be asked to record a few videos for your video journal to share how you’ve decided to use or save your funds.

Why will I be asked to submit videos?

Gifted Savings is a direct giving platform where donors can give stocks and bitcoin directly to individuals who are empowered to decide how to use the funds. Instead of us creating a boring presentation to donors about the impact that their gift made on real people, we let recipients tell their own stories through video.

Additionally, recipients can give permission to share their videos with other recipients, inspiring each other and sharing ideas about how to use their Gifted Savings portfolio.

What happens to my personal information, videos, and photos I submit?

As a non-profit organization, we are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of your personal information. We do not sell recipient data and maintain high standards to protect your privacy.

The videos you create as part of your Gifted Savings journey are intended to share your experiences and the impact of the program with our partners and donors. These stories serve as a testament to the positive changes and initiatives that our community is fostering.

How can I be eligible to receive more than $1,000 in Gifted Savings?

To encourage and support those recipients who take action on their dreams and submit compelling action items, they will be in the running to receive $2,000 or even $10,000 in Gifted Savings.

To receive $2,000 or $10,000 in Gifted Savings, we’re looking for recipients who intentionally complete action items and take steps towards their dream. We’ll be looking for recipients who can communicate why their dream matters to them through their action item videos and make a positive impact on themselves and others. 20% of recipients will be chosen to receive double their Gifted Savings to make their dream come true.

We will look for the following criteria when selecting students to receive 2x and 10x their Gifted Savings.

Adversity
We consider the applicant's experiences with personal, financial, or systemic challenges, aiming to ensure equal opportunity by those who may not have had all the same resources.

Dream Impact
We’re looking for dreams that could have a meaningful positive impact.

A Strong “Why”
Why does this dream matter to you? We want to know! Taking action on a dream is hard work, and we’re looking for applicants who can share why their dream means something to them.

Impact Others & Self
We believe the most impactful dreams are not just about us - they also consider the people around us. Community comes in many different forms (family, friends, causes you care about, neighborhood, clubs, etc.) and we want to hear about how your dream will impact both you and others.

Thoughtfulness in Application
Since we’re not able to meet you in person, your application is the best way we can get a sense of who you are. We’re looking for responses that are reflective, detailed, and thoughtful.

Compelling Application Video
Sharing your story through short videos is an important piece of this program. We’re looking for applicants who can present a compelling and authentic narrative in their application video.
Note: We don’t expect high production videos - just a simple recording.

Understanding my portfolio

I’ve never owned stock or bitcoin and don’t have an investment account. Will I be able to receive these assets?

We make it easy for you to receive and hold stocks and bitcoin - even if you don’t have an investment account.

Instead of requiring you to open up new accounts, we hold the stocks and bitcoin for you in your Gifted Savings account. When you complete the required actions to unlock your Gifted Savings portfolio, you can decide to keep holding your assets in your account or request to withdraw specific amounts into cash.

Can I receive more than $1,000 worth of stocks and bitcoin?

Short answer: yes.

To encourage a thoughtful and impactful use of the funds, we've structured incentives that reward a bias to action, impact, and storytelling. 20% of recipients will be chosen to receive double their Gifted Savings to make their dream come true.

Can I receive more than $1,000 worth of stocks and bitcoin?

Your Journey with Gifted Savings

How do I unlock my portfolio?

Note: We have multiple pilots underway and each has slightly different program design to test different cohorts and

How long does the program take?

Wealth typically isn’t built through cash - it’s built by having investment assets that increase in value over the long run.

We’ve

What happens in the lessons?

You can choose to withdraw via check or direct deposit.

What if I fall behind?

Taking part in Gifted Savings may change your eligibility for some government benefits. To help you decide if taking part in Gifted Savings is the right decision for you, please read the attached information.

When can I access my Gifted Savings portfolio funds?

You’ll be able to access your portfolio once you meet all of the following requirements:You’ve turned 18

• You’ve completed all the Gifted Savings lessons

• You’ve submitted all three surveys (beginning, middle, and end)

• You’ve finished the school year

Once those are done, you'll be able to request to withdraw or transfer your investments.

How long does the program take?

Each lesson takes about 10–15 minutes per week and is designed to be engaging, fun and educational. You can do it on your schedule, and catch up if needed, as long as everything is finished by the end of the school year.

What happens in the lessons?

Each lesson is designed to help you understand your investments and explore how they connect to your future goals, using engaging activities that encourage reflection and learning.

What if I fall behind?

You can catch up at any time, but everything must be completed before the school year ends. We recommend doing lessons weekly so you stay on track and don’t feel overwhelmed later.

Using Your Gifted Savings

How do I unlock my portfolio?

Note: We have multiple pilots underway and each has slightly different program design to test different cohorts and

How long does the program take?

Wealth typically isn’t built through cash - it’s built by having investment assets that increase in value over the long run.

We’ve

What happens in the lessons?

You can choose to withdraw via check or direct deposit.

What if I fall behind?

How do I use my investment portfolio once it’s unlocked?

Once you've met all the program requirements, you'll log into your account and click "Withdraw." You'll choose how you'd like to use your portfolio and submit a short explanation of your decision—either in writing or as a quick video. This helps us understand the impact of the program and encourages thoughtful choices.

What are my options?

Once you're ready to move your portfolio, you can choose one of the following:

• Transfer your investments (in-kind) to your own personal brokerage account, like Fidelity, so they can keep growing over time.

• Cash out your investments and deposit the money directly into your bank or credit union account via ACH (direct deposit).

• Request a check and have the money mailed to you at home.

Do I have to withdraw right away?

Yes—we ask that once you’ve completed the program requirements and become eligible to withdraw, you move your investments out of Gifted Savings by the end of that calendar year. Gifted Savings isn’t a bank, so we can’t hold onto your portfolio.

What’s an ACH withdrawal?

ACH stands for Automated Clearing House—it's a secure way to transfer your funds straight to your bank account. You’ll just need to enter your routing and account numbers.

What’s a check withdrawal?

This means you’ll receive a paper check in the mail for the total amount you're withdrawing. It can take a little longer than a bank transfer, but it's a great option if you don’t have an account yet. Just let us know what address you’d like the check to be mailed to!

What’s an in-kind transfer?

An in-kind transfer means you’re not turning your investments into cash—you’re just moving them from the Gifted Savings account into your own investment account. That way, the same stocks or ETFs can keep growing without being sold.

Can I withdraw just part of my portfolio?

Yes. Once you’ve met all the requirements, you can choose to withdraw some or all of your portfolio. We’ll ask how you plan to use it to better understand how we can continue improving the program and supporting students like you.

What if I don’t turn 18 until after graduation?

No problem. Once you turn 18 and complete the program, you'll be able to access your investments—even if that happens a few months after the school year ends.