FICO Partners with Marsai Martin to Scale Financial Literacy Program

The FICO Financial Empowerment Fellowship builds on a pilot year that reached 2,000 students through college readiness and financial programming. Selected fellows will undergo intensive training in credit management and financial wellness before executing campus-based outreach throughout the academic year. This expansion integrates FICO’s industry expertise in credit scoring with the grassroots reach of Seeds of Fortune and the platform provided by actress and producer Marsai Martin.

Beyond campus activations, the partnership features digital campaigns and a series titled "Credit Starts at Home" to engage families directly. Martin will also host an "Ask Marsai Anything" session focused on long-term financial habits and career development. The program culminates on January 18, 2027, at a Resolution Brunch in Atlanta, where the inaugural cohort will be recognized for their leadership in community advocacy.

Applications for the fellowship are open until September 21, 2026. According to Rukiya Kelly, FICO’s global head of corporate impact, the collaboration seeks to scale financial literacy by combining celebrity influence with technical data education. Seeds of Fortune, which has helped students secure over $114 million in scholarships to date, will serve as the primary educational technology platform for the initiative.