Christian Brothers Investment Services

What Christian Brothers Investment Services does

Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc. (CBIS) is a privately held, SEC-registered investment advisor founded in 1981 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers to provide professionally managed investment solutions to Catholic institutional investors. Headquartered in Chicago with a Rome Service Centre supporting European operations, CBIS serves more than 800 Catholic institutions worldwide, including dioceses, religious orders, Catholic schools and universities, healthcare systems, and Catholic nonprofits. The firm is owned by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and operates under religious-order governance, including a Charisms Council formed in 2022 to oversee alignment of the firm's offerings with Catholic moral and social teaching.

The firm offers a Catholic Responsible Investments (CRI) platform built around two product series: nine single-asset funds (Short Duration Bond, Ultra Short Bond, Bond, Opportunistic Bond, Equity Index, Small-Cap, International Equity, International Small-Cap, and Multi-Style US Equity) and four turnkey multi-asset "Magnus" funds (45/55, 75/25, 60/40 Beta Plus, and 60/40 Alpha Plus). In 2025, the firm added the CRI Global Bond Fund and CRI Global Equity Fund. Underlying technology consists of a proprietary Catholic investment screening framework consistent with USCCB guidelines (covering Life Ethics, Violence, Tobacco, and Pornography categories), an active ownership program executing corporate engagements, shareholder resolutions, and proxy voting across 3,000+ ballots and 20,000+ proposals annually, and a manager-of-managers implementation model that engages premier institutional sub-advisors including Wellington Management, Lazard, Allspring, Causeway, Principal, WCM, RhumbLine, Brandywine, Sun Life, Loomis Sayles, Nuveen, William Blair, T. Rowe Price, Mar Vista, Boston Partners, and Parametric.

CBIS makes money primarily through investment advisory and management fees on its mutual fund series, with institutional share class expense ratios ranging from 0.09% (Equity Index) to 1.15% (International Small-Cap) and investor share class ratios running 0.25%-0.95% above institutional on minimums ranging from $5,000 to $5M. Distribution combines direct institutional sales via regional relationship managers across U.S. East, Central, and West plus non-U.S. channels, a 2024-expanded strategic relationship with Mercer for global Catholic institutional distribution, and SEI Investment Distribution Co. as the funds' registered distributor. The firm also holds membership in CIIC, UN PRI, and ICCR and directs a portion of profits to the FSC Foundation.

Name

Christian Brothers Investment Services

Legal name

Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc.

Website

https://cbisonline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) is a Catholic, mission-driven registered investment advisor founded in 1981 that manages CRI mutual funds and serves more than 800 Catholic institutions globally through faith-aligned screening, multi-manager portfolios, and active ownership engagement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory and Management Fees: CBIS earns management fees from its series of Catholic Responsible Investments mutual funds. Fee structures vary by fund, with expense ratios ranging from 0.09% (Equity Index Fund) to 1.15% (International Small-Cap Fund) for institutional share classes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Christian Brothers Investment Services manages the Catholic Responsible Investments (CRI) platform, a family of mutual funds that pair institutional sub-advisors with proprietary Catholic moral screening and active ownership engagement. The firm serves Catholic institutional investors through single-asset funds (equity and fixed income) and turnkey multi-asset (Magnus) strategies, with two new global funds launched in 2025. CBIS earns investment advisory and management fees from more than $13 billion in assets under management on behalf of over 800 Catholic institutions worldwide.

Product overview

Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) operates as a Catholic, socially responsible investment management firm and Registered Investment Advisor founded in 1981. The company offers a comprehensive investment platform centered on Catholic Responsible Investments (CRI), a multi-manager investment approach that combines sub-advisors with unique styles to provide risk-adjusted returns while aligning with Catholic moral and social teachings. CBIS manages two fund series: CRI Single-Asset Funds (nine strategies including Short Duration Bond Fund, Ultra Short Bond Fund, Bond Fund, Opportunistic Bond Fund, International Small-Cap Fund, International Equity Fund, Small-Cap Fund, Equity Index Fund, and Multi-Style US Equity Fund) and CRI Magnus Funds (four turnkey multi-asset strategies: 45/55, 75/25, 60/40 Beta Plus, and 60/40 Alpha Plus). In 2025, CBIS launched the CRI Global Bond Fund and CRI Global Equity Fund. The platform also includes Active Ownership services (corporate engagements, shareholder resolutions, proxy voting), Catholic Investment Screening consistent with USCCB guidelines, and regular Impact and Justice reporting. Today, CBIS manages assets on behalf of more than 800 Catholic institutions worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CRI Single-Asset Funds: Nine strategies seeking highly competitive risk-adjusted returns in a single asset class including equity and fixed income solutions.
• CRI Magnus Funds
• CRI Short Duration Bond Fund
• CRI Ultra Short Bond Fund
• CRI Bond Fund
• CRI Opportunistic Bond Fund
• CRI Equity Index Fund
• CRI Small-Cap Fund
• CRI International Equity Fund
• CRI International Small-Cap Fund
• CRI Multi-Style US Equity Fund
• CRI Magnus 45/55 Fund
• CRI Magnus 75/25 Fund
• CRI Magnus 60/40 Beta Plus Fund
• CRI Magnus 60/40 Alpha Plus Fund

Products and services

• CRI Short Duration Bond Fund A fixed income fund seeking current income consistent with preservation of capital, investing in short-term U.S. government, agency, corporate, asset-backed, and mortgage-backed securities with up to 10% in below investment-grade bonds. Designed for Catholic institutional investors seeking short-duration fixed income exposure consistent with USCCB-aligned screens.
• CRI Ultra Short Bond Fund A fund providing optimal current income and preservation of capital through high quality, high liquidity fixed income obligations with short maturities and a portfolio average maturity of less than 90 days, applying Catholic investment screens.
• CRI Bond Fund A fixed income fund seeking current income and long-term capital appreciation through U.S. government and agency securities, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities, screened consistent with USCCB guidelines. Sub-advised by Brandywine Global, Sun Life Capital Management, Loomis Sayles, and Teachers Advisors (Nuveen).
• CRI Opportunistic Bond Fund A bond fund seeking current income and relatively low correlation to equity assets using top-down macroeconomic analysis combined with duration management, applying Catholic investment screens.
• CRI Equity Index Fund An index fund replicating S&P 500 performance while excluding securities screened by CBIS Catholic investment criteria and countering screen impact through overweighting select holdings. Designed for Catholic institutional investors seeking broad large-cap index exposure with values-aligned screens.
• CRI Small-Cap Fund An equity fund replicating S&P SmallCap 600 Index performance through common stocks while seeking replacements for screened stocks, applying CBIS Catholic investment screens. Sub-advised by RhumbLine Advisers.
• CRI International Equity Fund An international equity fund investing in well-established companies in MSCI ACWI Ex-USA countries for above-average market appreciation potential, applying Catholic investment screens. Sub-advised by Causeway Capital, Principal Global Investors, and WCM Investment Management.
• CRI International Small-Cap Fund An equity fund targeting long-term capital appreciation through a diversified portfolio of small capitalization companies in MSCI ACWI Ex-USA Small Cap countries, applying Catholic investment screens. Sub-advised by Lazard Asset Management, Allspring Global Investments, and Parametric Portfolio Associates.
• CRI Multi-Style US Equity Fund A US equity fund investing in predominantly mid to large capitalization companies included in the Russell 1000 Index, combining multiple skilled active managers for enhanced risk-adjusted returns with Catholic screens. Sub-advised by Mar Vista Investment Partners, Boston Partners Global Investors, William Blair Investment Management, and T. Rowe Price Associates.
• CRI Magnus 45/55 Fund A fund-of-funds multi-asset strategy allocating 45% to equity securities and 55% to fixed-income securities, seeking current income and long-term capital appreciation with Catholic screens applied across underlying strategies.
• CRI Magnus 75/25 Fund A fund-of-funds multi-asset strategy allocating 75% to equity securities and 25% to fixed-income securities, seeking current income and long-term capital appreciation with Catholic screens.
• CRI Magnus 60/40 Beta Plus Fund A fund-of-funds multi-asset strategy allocating 60% to equity and 40% to fixed income with a bias towards passive management in the equity portion, applying Catholic screens.
• CRI Magnus 60/40 Alpha Plus Fund A fund-of-funds multi-asset strategy allocating 60% to equity and 40% to fixed income, combining passive and active management approaches with Catholic screens.
• CRI Global Bond Fund A global bond fund that consolidated prior global bond strategies into a newly structured offering designed to enhance diversification, manager specialization, and portfolio clarity, applying Catholic investment screens.
• CRI Global Equity Fund A global equity fund that consolidated prior global equity strategies into a newly structured offering designed to enhance diversification, manager specialization, and portfolio clarity, applying Catholic investment screens.
• Catholic Responsible Investments (CRI) Active Ownership Service A shareholder advocacy service combining corporate engagements, shareholder resolutions, and proxy voting on more than 20,000 proposals across 3,000+ ballots annually to promote human dignity, economic justice, and care for creation across CBIS portfolio companies.
• Catholic Investment Screening Service Proprietary investment screening service designed to identify and exclude companies involved in activities that contradict Catholic moral and social teachings, consistent with USCCB guidelines. Screens cover Life Ethics, Violence, Tobacco, and Pornography categories.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800 Catholic institutions served globally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• MercerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Expanded strategic relationship with Mercer to provide investment consulting and management services to Catholic institutional clients globally. Mercer provides investment consulting expertise supporting CBIS distribution to Catholic organizations.
• Wellington Management Company LLPcoreTechnology or IntegrationInstitutional asset manager serving as sub-advisor for multiple CRI fixed income funds including Short Duration Bond Fund and Ultra Short Bond Fund.
• Lazard Asset Management LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI International Small-Cap Fund, providing international small-cap equity expertise with complementary growth and value oriented investment processes.
• Allspring Global Investments LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI International Small-Cap Fund, complementing the multi-manager approach with additional investment style coverage.
• Causeway Capital Management LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI International Equity Fund, providing international equity management with complementary growth and value investment processes.
• Principal Global Investors LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI International Equity Fund, combining three managers with complementary investment processes.
• WCM Investment ManagementcoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI International Equity Fund, providing international equity expertise.
• RhumbLine AdviserscoreTechnology or IntegrationIndex fund manager sub-advisor for the CRI Small-Cap Fund, replicating S&P SmallCap 600 performance while implementing Catholic screens.
• Brandywine Global Investment Management LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI Bond Fund, providing fixed income management expertise.
• Sun Life Capital Management (U.S.) LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI Bond Fund, contributing fixed income investment capabilities.
• Loomis Sayles & CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI Bond Fund, providing fixed income management expertise.
• Teachers Advisors LLC / NuveencoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for CRI Short Duration Bond Fund, CRI Bond Fund, and CRI Opportunistic Bond Fund, providing institutional fixed income management.
• Mar Vista Investment Partners LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI Multi-Style US Equity Fund, one of four active managers in the multi-style approach.
• Boston Partners Global Investors Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI Multi-Style US Equity Fund, providing active equity management.
• William Blair Investment Management LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI Multi-Style US Equity Fund, providing active equity management expertise.
• T. Rowe Price Associates Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI Multi-Style US Equity Fund, providing active equity investment management.
• Parametric Portfolio AssociatescoreTechnology or IntegrationSub-advisor for the CRI International Small-Cap Fund, providing systematic investment approaches.
• SEI Investment Distribution Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSIDCO serves as the registered distributor of CBIS CRI mutual funds.
• Catholic Impact Investing Collaborative (CIIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBIS joined CIIC, a collaborative of Catholic investment managers working to advance impact investing across the Catholic community.
• FSC FoundationminorOthersSince 1988, CBIS has directed a portion of its annual profits to the FSC Foundation and its programs designed to support educational services for the poor.
• United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI)coreOthersCBIS is a signatory to UN PRI, demonstrating commitment to responsible investment principles.
• Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)coreOthersCBIS is a member of ICCR, participating in collaborative shareholder engagement with other faith-based investors.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Calvert Impact Capital: Calvert Impact Capital is a nonprofit impact investing firm offering community investment notes and place-based investments for faith-based and mission-aligned investors. Comparable to CBIS in mission-aligned investor base, though focused on private impact debt rather than screened public-market mutual funds.
• Trillium Asset Management: Trillium Asset Management manages values-based portfolios for institutional and high-net-worth clients, integrating ESG and shareholder advocacy. Comparable to CBIS in values-screened portfolio management and active ownership focus, though serving a secular ESG-oriented institutional base rather than a Catholic denomination.
• Commonfund: Commonfund provides investment management services to endowments, foundations, and other institutional investors, including faith-based institutions. Comparable to CBIS in serving institutional nonprofit investors with pooled fund offerings, though not denomination-specific and broader in investment style coverage.

Direct peers

• Walden Asset Management: Walden Asset Management, a division of Boston Trust Walden, provides values-aligned, faith-informed investment management for institutions and individuals, with significant shareholder advocacy. Comparable to CBIS in faith-informed institutional asset management and active ownership focus.
• Eventide Funds: Eventide Funds manages a values-based mutual fund family integrating Christian principles with impact and ESG investing. Comparable to CBIS as a faith-aligned fund sponsor combining values screening with active ownership, though with a broader Protestant evangelical orientation.
• Mercy Investment Services: Mercy Investment Services is a Catholic, faith-consistent investment program serving the Sisters of Mercy and aligned Catholic institutions, offering screened portfolios and active ownership. Directly comparable to CBIS in mission, screening methodology, and Catholic institutional client base, though smaller in AUM and narrower in service offerings.
• Ave Maria Mutual Funds: Ave Maria Mutual Funds is a family of Catholic-values-screened mutual funds serving retail and institutional Catholic investors, emphasizing moral screening consistent with Catholic teaching. Closely comparable to CBIS in faith-based screening approach and mutual fund structure, though focused more on retail investors than institutions.
• Domini Impact Investments: Domini Impact Investments offers mutual funds applying comprehensive social and environmental screens with active ownership and shareholder advocacy. Comparable to CBIS as a values-screened fund family with strong active ownership program, though not denomination-specific and more impact/ESG-focused.
• Timothy Plan: Timothy Plan offers a family of mutual funds applying biblical/Christian values-based screens to equity and fixed income strategies, serving evangelical and broadly Christian investors. Comparable to CBIS as a faith-based mutual fund family with values screening, though denominational focus is Protestant rather than Catholic.
• Praxis Mutual Funds: Praxis Mutual Funds is a faith-based, values-screening mutual fund family sponsored by Everence, the Mennonite-Anabaptist financial services organization. Comparable to CBIS in faith-based mutual fund structure and values screening, with active ownership and impact investing emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cbissocial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christian-brothers-investment-services

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Christian Brothers Investment Services