Belmont Students Award $100,000 to Nashville Nonprofits Through Generous Life Course

Interfaith Dental, Preston Taylor Ministries each receive $50,000 through student-led philanthropy initiative

For the past year, Belmont students have done something most college courses never ask of their students: steward real money for real impact. 

As part of Belmont’s inaugural Generous Life Course — a year-long experiential learning initiative housed within the Global Honors Program and delivered in collaboration with Belmont Innovation Labs — students were entrusted with a $100,000 philanthropic fund and tasked with deciding where it would go. 

The course gives students hands-on experience evaluating nonprofit proposals and directing real philanthropic resources. The Generous Life Course Fund was established through a $100,000 commitment from Nashville-based Anchor Investments.  

Students developed a request-for-proposal process, reviewed submissions from nonprofits across Nashville, conducted finalist interviews and ultimately selected two organizations to receive $50,000 grants. Those students gathered on campus March 10 to announce their selections: Interfaith Dental and Preston Taylor Ministries.  

“Generosity isn’t just about giving away money,” said Josh Yates, executive director of Belmont Innovation Labs. “It’s a mindset — an ethic for how you live your life. At Belmont, we’re not just preparing students for the jobs they’ll have — we’re preparing them for the lives they’ll live and the contributions they’ll make.”  

Students from a wide range of majors across Belmont participated in the course, bringing diverse perspectives to the grant review process while exploring how generosity and community engagement intersect with their future vocations.  

“Our hope was that this experience would inspire the next generation of generous leaders,” said Micah Lacher, president of Anchor Investments. “Generosity isn’t only about money — your time and talents can be just as powerful in creating impact in your community.” 

For the organizations selected, the funding represents a meaningful investment in work already impacting the Nashville community. 

Interfaith Dental provides comprehensive dental care for individuals who lack access to oral health services, while Preston Taylor Ministries supports youth and families through mentorship, education and community programs designed to empower the next generation of leaders. 

For faculty leading the course, the experience reflects Belmont’s commitment to connecting classroom learning with meaningful community engagement and equipping students with real-world opportunities to make a tangible difference. 

“Our students poured their hearts and minds into this process,” said Dr. Mona Ivey Soto, who co-teaches the course. “They engaged deeply with nonprofits across Nashville and learned what it truly means to live a life marked by generosity.”