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 values of servant leadership, saw the need for a youth-led movement that would not only prepare young people to lead but also connect them to the systems and partnerships that create real change.

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

Since its founding, SPM has forged pathways that allow young leaders to both achieve success and channel it back into their communities. By bridging the gap between grassroots leadership and institutional partnerships, SPM has empowered cohorts of leaders to walk hand-in-hand with others, lifting communities while collaborating with businesses, nonprofits, and civic institutions to drive lasting impact.

SPM at McDonald's Headquarters

SPM at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

People and culture

At Serving People with a Mission, our greatest strength is our people. We are a diverse community of servant leaders—youth, alumni, and partners—committed to building bridges that unite people, organizations, and communities. Our culture is rooted in collaboration, equity, and shared responsibility, where every voice matters and every leader has the chance to succeed in their field.

We believe leadership is not about titles, but about service. That’s why we foster a culture where empathy and accountability guide our work, and where leaders support one another to create lasting impact through philanthropic, charitable, civic, and corporate partnerships. Together, we are more than a team—we are a movement.

Our Mission (Extended Version)

Vision

We envision a world where bridges of understanding and collaboration unite people, organizations, and communities across lines of difference. In this world, every leader—regardless of background—has both the opportunity to succeed in their field and the support to turn that success into meaningful impact.

SPM is committed to developing a generation of servant leaders who not only embody equity and shared responsibility but also know how to build bridges that bring people together at scale. By uniting diverse groups and fostering lasting partnerships—including civic collaborations, corporate partnerships, and CSR initiatives—we create stronger neighborhoods, more compassionate institutions, and a future defined by purpose-driven leadership.

Together, we are more than the sum of our parts—we are a connected network of changemakers building lasting impact hand-in-hand.

Mission

At Serving People with a Mission (SPM), we build bridges—between people, organizations, and communities—and we train leaders to do the same fairly and equitably on a large scale. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to put others in the position to succeed. We equip leaders from all walks of life—especially youth and emerging leaders—with the tools, opportunities, and support systems they need to be successful in their field.

Through servant leadership, community engagement, and equitable access to resources, we empower leaders not only to achieve professional success but also to extend that success outward, fueling philanthropic, charitable, civic, and corporate partnerships. We believe that walking hand-in-hand with others fosters resilience, sparks inspiration, and creates a ripple effect of impact. When leaders are given the chance to lead and serve, they don’t just grow—they lift others as they rise, strengthening the fabric of entire communities.