Tillo and NILENT have partnered to connect student-athlete financial education with digital gift card rewards. Announced on August 26, 2026, the program uses Tillo StoreFront to provide a dedicated rewards storefront where points earned through short learning modules can be redeemed.

The partnership uses Tillo StoreFront, a white label digital gift card mall, to power a dedicated NIL athlete rewards storefront. Athletes earn points for completing financial literacy modules, which are redeemable for digital gift cards from brands including Papa Johns and Outback Steakhouse. The education focus includes practical financial literacy topics such as credit scores and budgeting, taught by professional athletes, entrepreneurs, and industry experts.

The companies cite research in which 80% of young athletes rated their financial literacy as good or excellent, while 48% maintained a budget and 19% followed one consistently. They present the combination of education and usable rewards as a way to address that gap, rather than reporting a measured change in participants’ budgeting behavior.

The partnership also gives athletic departments and collectives new ways to maximize purchasing power, reduce costs, and generate additional revenue through Tillo's gift card platform. Alex Preece, Co-Founder and CEO at Tillo, stated that financial literacy is most effective when it's practical, and that rewards and discounted gift cards can play a meaningful role in stretching a budget. Steven Simmons, Co-Founder and COO at NILENT, said that the partnership allows them to deliver practical financial education alongside meaningful rewards, while also giving athletic departments additional ways to create value for their programs.

The partnership establishes a foundation for future educational programming aimed at student athletes, high schools, colleges, and athletic departments. As NIL continues to reshape the financial landscape for young athletes, the companies plan to build on this model, turning financial literacy from a one-time lesson into an everyday habit tied to real, usable rewards.