Mission & Impact Investing
Stewarding resources with faith and purpose
ABHMS believes that faithful stewardship extends not only to ministry programs but also to the way financial resources are invested. Through socially responsible investing, we seek to ensure that financial decisions reflect the same commitment to justice, integrity, and care for creation that guides our mission.
Prudent management of invested funds provides both support for ministry and a means of carrying out mission. By aligning investments with Christian values, ABHMS shows that financial growth and social responsibility can go hand in hand.
The Common Investment Fund
The Common Investment Fund (CIF) is the main investment vehicle through which ABHMS manages its assets and offers investment opportunities to American Baptist churches, regions, and affiliated organizations.
Established in 1962, the CIF was created to oversee the investments of the American Baptist Home Mission Society and the Woman’s American Baptist Home Mission Society. Participation expanded in 1975 to include American Baptist churches and related institutions.
Today, the fund offers professionally managed investment services designed to balance long-term growth with careful risk management, while supporting the ministries of American Baptist organizations. Investments are diversified across various asset classes to seek sustainable returns over time.
Investing with a social conscience
ABHMS has practiced socially responsible investing (SRI) for more than five decades. Its investment guidelines ensure that financial decisions reflect ethical commitments consistent with Christian faith.
These practices include:
Values-based investment screening that excludes companies primarily engaged in industries such as tobacco, alcohol, gambling, pornography, and weapons production.
Shareholder engagement, including proxy voting, corporate dialogue, and shareholder resolutions that encourage responsible corporate practices.
Collaboration with faith-based partners, including the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), to advocate for environmental stewardship, human rights, and ethical governance.
Through these efforts, ABHMS works to influence the corporate world toward practices that support justice, sustainability and the common good.
Why churches and ministries participate
Many American Baptist churches and affiliated organizations choose the Common Investment Fund because it combines professional investment management with mission alignment.
Benefits include:
Professionally managed, diversified investment portfolios
Faith-aligned investment guidelines rooted in Christian values
Competitive long-term returns that support ministry sustainability
Low operating costs shared among fund participants
Personal service from ABHMS investment staff
Participation allows ministries to steward their financial resources responsibly while ensuring that their investments reflect their faith commitments.
Who may participate
The Common Investment Fund is available to:
American Baptist churches
American Baptist regions
American Baptist-related organizations and ministries
A minimum investment of $5,000 is required to establish participation in the fund.
Learn More
Church leaders and ministry organizations interested in socially responsible investing through the Common Investment Fund are encouraged to contact ABHMS.
Gina Haas
Director of Investments
610-768-2404
gina.haas@abhms.org
Invest with integrity. Steward with purpose.
Faithful stewardship calls for both wisdom and alignment. Whether you are ready to invest or still discerning, ABHMS offers guidance rooted in faith, responsibility, and long-term vision.
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Connect About Faith-Aligned Investing
Speak with ABHMS’ director of investments to explore how the Common Investment Fund can support your ministry’s financial stewardship.
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Review Fund Plan & Investment Guidelines
Understand how ABHMS aligns investment decisions with Christian values through disciplined, values-based practices.
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See Excluded Investments
Explore the companies and industries screened out to ensure alignment with ABHMS’ ethical investment standards.
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Explore ICCR Resources
Access proxy resolutions and voting guidance that inform shareholder advocacy and responsible corporate engagement.
VIDEO: Webinar to ICCR’s “2026 Proxy Resolutions and Voting Guide”