Why does Serving People with a Mission Exist?

History

Serving People with a Mission (SPM) was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in February 2020 by three undergraduate students at Loyola University Chicago. These servant leaders, grounded in the principles of service, empathy, and equity, recognized the need for a youth-led movement that would prepare the current and next generation of leaders while connecting them to the systems and partnerships capable of driving real change.

SPM was officially incorporated and established as a 501(c)(3) public charity to equip young leaders with the knowledge, skills, and networks to succeed in their desired fields and give back to their communities. From the very beginning, the vision extended beyond personal growth—SPM was built to train bridge builders who unite people, organizations, and communities through philanthropic, charitable, civic, educational, and corporate partnerships.

Since its founding, SPM has forged pathways that empower emerging leaders to achieve success and reinvest it into the communities they serve. By bridging the gap between grassroots leadership and institutional collaboration, SPM has cultivated a growing network of servant leaders who continue to walk hand-in-hand with others—lifting communities, inspiring change, and strengthening society through one enduring truth: our mission to serve people.

SPM at Chicago City Council Chambers

SPM at the Grant Thornton Chicago HQ

People and culture

At Serving People with a Mission (SPM), our greatest strength is our people. We are a diverse collective of servant leaders—youth, alumni, and partners—committed to building bridges that unite people, organizations, and communities through the mission to serve people. Our culture is rooted in collaboration, equity, and shared responsibility, where every voice matters, and every leader has the opportunity to thrive.

Our emerging leaders are stepping boldly into diverse industries—from education and business to public service, social impact, and the arts—bringing the values of service and empathy into everything they do. Alongside them stand our maturing and seasoned servant leaders, who continue to model what it means to lead with purpose through mentorship, innovation, and sustained community impact.

Serving People with a Mission (SPM) builds bridges between people and organizations. We connect young people to people, organizations, rooms, and tables they might not otherwise have access to. We are a bridge between the youth (the young), the maturing (middle-aged), and the seasoned (senior-aged) from all backgrounds.

Serving People with a Mission creates safe spaces where people can connect and thrive. We focus on people before anything—meaning that race, religion, sex, or any other identity is never a barrier. Through our work, we foster understanding, collaboration, and opportunity, ensuring that every person has the chance to lead, grow, and serve with purpose. Anyone and everyone can be serving people with a mission.

Our Mission & Vision (Extended Version)

Vision

Our vision is to create a world where serving others is not the exception, but the standard—a world strengthened by compassion, unity, and purpose. We believe every person has the ability to make a difference, and when people lead with service, they create the foundation for lasting progress.

Serving People with a Mission (SPM) envisions a future where collective servant leadership transforms how society connects, educates, and uplifts. Through education, leadership development, and community engagement, we aim to inspire individuals to use their success to build bridges and create lasting civic, social, and economic impact.

Born out of Chicago, our movement continues to unite people across backgrounds and generations through one shared belief: when we serve others with purpose, we strengthen the world around us. This is our vision—to continue shaping a better, more connected society through the lifelong mission to serve people.

Mission

Serving People with a Mission (SPM) is a nonprofit organization of collective servant leaders who bring positivity to communities through the action of serving people with a mission. Serving people with a mission is what we do best—and what that means is taking intentional action to make our communities and environment better for society.

Through education, leadership development, and community engagement, we physically and mentally prepare young people to be servant leaders who serve people with a mission by connecting them to resources of knowledge, networks of power, and shining light on them to ensure their success. We believe that true leadership begins with service and that progress is achieved when people lead with compassion, equity, and purpose.

What began as a youth-founded effort born out of Chicago has grown into a powerful movement that builds bridges, inspires change, and strengthens communities through one simple truth—our mission to serve people.