Donate to Giorgi's Education and Future Impact

My name is Giorgi Kukishvili. I was born and raised in Tbilisi, Georgia, where I grew up believing that political, economic, and social systems could be rebuilt to serve people better. That belief shaped everything I’ve done since: from graduating as class valedictorian from a Georgian public school and receiving a national gold medal as an exceptional student, to earning a full scholarship to Minerva University, where I studied in six countries and focused on the intersection of economics, statistics, and decision-making. Now, I’ve been accepted to the Master’s in Financial Engineering program at Claremont Graduate University, which is my dream program, as it perfectly aligns with the tools I’ve spent years trying to master. But I can’t afford to go without your help.

Letter of Acceptance

Although I have just been admitted to this top-tier graduate program with a merit-based fellowship, I’m still short $55,000 to make it happen. This campaign is my last shot.

Why this program and why now?

I didn’t grow up with connections or wealth. I grew up in Tbilisi, Georgia, in a working-class family where every opportunity had to be earned, often the hard way.

When I got a full-ride scholarship to study at Minerva University, I knew it was my shot. Over the next four years, I studied in six different countries, worked side jobs, and stayed up nights learning statistics and economics. Not because it was easy, but because I was hungry to understand how systems work, and how they can be made fairer.

At Minerva, I built everything from scratch: scraping financial data for a thesis on CEO dismissals, modeling demand for small businesses, and helping design financial tools for rural India with Tata Group. Every project I took on was driven by a single question: how can I use this to create more stability and opportunity for people like the ones I grew up around?

This master’s program in Financial Engineering at Claremont isn’t just another degree. It’s the next step in learning how to build better systems, especially for countries like Georgia, where opportunities are scarce and economic shocks hit hardest. I’ve done everything I can to get this far. Now I just need help making it the rest of the way.

What will the funds be used for?

Here’s a breakdown of the $55,000 I still need to raise:

$55,890 – Tuition

$840 – University Fees

$2,620 – Health Insurance

$25,000 – Living Expenses

Why I can’t afford this on my own

When I graduated from Minerva in 2024, I had already accumulated $24,000 in loans in addition to the maximum scholarship that I could have been awarded. After graduation, I fought hard to stay in the U.S., working two full-time jobs while building my portfolio.

But as a non-citizen on a time-limited visa, my job opportunities were restricted. I left the U.S. in May 2025 when my visa expired. Back home in Georgia, the average salary is around $500/month. I calculated: it would take me over 14 years to save enough to return to graduate school. And that’s without factoring in living expenses.

Why your donation matters

This fundraiser isn’t just about me.

It’s about what someone like me—armed with education, grit, and opportunity—can do for others.

It’s about building better financial tools for countries like mine. It’s about designing resilient systems in a world facing economic uncertainty. It’s about someone from a small country making a big difference.

I’m not asking for a handout, I’m asking for a chance.

What you can do

Donate what you can, even $10 helps.

Share this campaign with friends, colleagues, or anyone who believes in the power of education.

Reach out if you know of scholarships, sponsorships, or other ways you believe that you can help, every connection matters.

Final words

I’ve worked incredibly hard to get here from Tbilisi to San Francisco, from service jobs to building economic models. This dream is within reach, but I can’t take the final step alone.

If you’ve ever believed that where you come from shouldn’t determine where you can go, I hope you’ll join me.

Thank you for being here.

With gratitude,

Giorgi Kukishvili