Marsai Martin is expanding the reach of the Marsai’s Way Foundation, the nonprofit she established in 2018 to empower underserved youth through scholarships, mentorship, education and leadership opportunities. The foundation has now reached 10,000 students, completed 64 projects, built 36 worldwide partnerships and distributed $200,000 in scholarships.
The foundation is rooted in personal legacy. Martin was named after her late cousin, Marsai Chari Murray, and created the organization in her honor, channeling grief into purpose and remembrance into action. In a video shared on Instagram, Martin spoke directly to the mission.
“There was a woman whose name became my own. A woman whose way became mine,” she said. “If a way was made for me, then I have the responsibility to make one for someone else, to create, to lead, to own what we build. Because legacy isn’t what we leave behind, it’s what we pour into others while we’re here. Because every girl deserves the freedom to imagine more, to see more, become more. I carry her name. I carry her way. And now, we’re building one together.”
The foundation’s work is organized around four pillars: scholarships, health and wellness, leadership development and financial literacy. Building on a three-year partnership with Seeds of Fortune Inc. launched in June 2025 to support 10,000 young women through financial education and wealth-building strategies, the foundation has now expanded its programming with the launch of the FICO Financial Empowerment Fellowship in partnership with FICO and Seeds of Fortune Inc.
The fellowship will award ten college students a $1,500 scholarship each while equipping them with financial literacy skills, FICO score education and leadership development training through Seeds of Fortune. Fellows will also be responsible for engaging their campuses and communities with financial education resources that promote healthier financial habits.
Selected fellows will attend the Marsai Martin Resolution Brunch in Atlanta during MLK weekend, where they will connect with Martin, fellow participants and other changemakers.
“We spend so much time preparing for our careers, but understanding your finances is just as important,” Martin said. “Learning how credit works, making smart financial decisions, and building wealth for your future, those are life skills that create opportunities.”
The fellowship is open to students enrolled in a two-year or four-year college or university or an accredited trade or vocational program in the U.S.
The deadline to apply is September 21, to apply click here.