In 2021, Stephen and Stephanie Moore established the yield2Yield Scholarship, open to all junior and senior business students in the McAfee School of Business at Union University.

Unlike traditional scholarships, this award is not based on GPA or other performance metrics. Instead, it is essay-driven. Applicants are asked to submit a 1–3 page essay on the topic: “How I Plan to Succeed Financially without Failing Spiritually.” The purpose of this approach is to focus on the heart, in keeping with the biblical truth that where one’s treasure lies, the heart will also be revealed. In a world often defined by performance, the Moores desired to remove performance-based criteria, affirming that faith is not measured by achievement.

As a 1984 graduate of Union University with a degree in Business Administration, Stephen Moore felt it was fitting for the scholarship to support business students. Juniors and seniors were chosen as recipients due to the greater financial need typically experienced during those years. The scholarship began at $2,500; however, today, scholarship recipients receive $3,100 to accommodate tuition increases.

In the first year, the scholarship received 18 applications. While intended to support two recipients, the Moores found it impossible to narrow the field beyond ten finalists. Each subsequent year has presented a similar challenge, as many students have shown deep sincerity in their essays.

The yield2Yield Scholarship is rooted in John 12:24, where Jesus says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” The Moores view this scholarship as the planting of a seed in good soil, with the potential to grow not just into a single tree, but into an orchard bearing fruit many times over. They believe that giving is not subtraction from resources, but multiplication of what matters most. While they began this journey believing the greatest impact would be on Union University students, they discovered that the deepest blessing has been their own joy—a joy that comes only from God.