Ave Maria Funds at 25: A New Chapter for Morally Responsible Investing

PLYMOUTH, MI – April 30, 2026 – Ave Maria Mutual Funds, the nation's largest family of pro-life, Catholic-oriented mutual funds, is marking its 25th anniversary with a dual announcement that underscores both its foundational principles and its forward-looking strategy. The firm is celebrating a quarter-century of leadership in morally responsible investing while simultaneously launching a new product, the Ave Maria Undiscovered Fund (AVEUX), aimed at capturing long-term capital appreciation.

With over $3.7 billion in assets under management, the Plymouth-based fund family has successfully carved out a significant niche at the intersection of faith and finance. Advised by Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., Ave Maria has grown from a single fund established in 2001 into a suite of eight no-load funds, each designed to allow investors to pursue financial goals without compromising the core moral teachings of the Catholic Church.

A Legacy Built on Conviction

For 25 years, Ave Maria Mutual Funds has operated on a clear and unwavering premise: that investment portfolios can and should reflect an investor's deepest values. The firm was born from an idea shared by Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan and former Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who approached George P. Schwartz, Founder and Executive Chairman of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., to create an investment vehicle for conscientious Catholics.

“When Tom Monaghan and Bowie Kuhn came to me with the idea to start Ave Maria Mutual Funds, a fundamental principle was that investors shouldn’t have to choose between strong financial performance and their moral convictions,” said Mr. Schwartz in a statement.

This principle is enforced through a rigorous, multi-layered screening process. Every potential investment is vetted not only for its financial soundness but also for its adherence to pro-life and pro-family values. A dedicated Catholic Advisory Board, a distinctive feature of the fund family, establishes the moral criteria. Companies involved in abortion, pornography, or embryonic stem cell research are explicitly excluded. This values-based overlay is applied to a disciplined investment methodology that favors financially strong companies with attractive valuations and solid growth potential.

The success of this model is reflected in the firm's growth. Its two largest funds, the Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX) and the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (AVEDX), command over $1.2 billion and $926 million in assets, respectively, according to recent figures. The entire family of funds has become a cornerstone for individuals, families, and institutions seeking to practice faithful financial stewardship.

Charting New Territory with the 'Undiscovered Fund'

Coinciding with its silver anniversary, the firm is debuting the Ave Maria Undiscovered Fund (AVEUX), signaling a continued effort to innovate and meet evolving investor needs. The new fund’s objective is long-term capital appreciation, which it will pursue by investing in companies its managers believe offer undiscovered value.

The fund's strategy will emphasize companies with a market capitalization of less than $10 billion, venturing into the small- and mid-cap space where companies are often less scrutinized by Wall Street analysts. This 'undiscovered value' approach seeks to identify promising businesses before they become widely recognized, offering the potential for significant long-term growth. However, as is typical with investments in smaller-capitalization companies, this strategy can also entail greater volatility compared to investments in larger, more established corporations.

Leading the new fund is a team of seasoned professionals from Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. Ryan M. Kuyawa, CFA, will serve as the lead portfolio manager, joined by co-managers Sean C. Gaffney, CFA, and James T. Peregoy, CFA. Their task will be to navigate the small- and mid-cap landscape to find companies that not only meet the firm's stringent financial criteria but also pass its uncompromising moral screens—a complex challenge in a market segment where transparency can vary.

The launch of AVEUX demonstrates the firm's confidence in its ability to apply its unique screening process across different investment styles and market segments, offering its faith-based clientele a new avenue for potential growth.

The Enduring Appeal of Conscientious Capitalism

Ave Maria's 25-year milestone is more than a corporate anniversary; it's a testament to the enduring and growing appeal of faith-based investing. As a pioneer in the space, the firm has helped demonstrate that a values-driven investment strategy is not only viable but can be highly successful. Its growth mirrors a broader trend within the financial world, where an increasing number of investors, from individuals to large institutions, are demanding that their capital aligns with their ethical, social, and religious beliefs.

This movement, often categorized under the umbrella of Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, has gained significant traction. Within this landscape, faith-based funds like those offered by Ave Maria represent a distinct and powerful segment, driven by specific theological and moral doctrines rather than general secular ethics. For its target audience, the specificity of its Catholic-aligned screens is a key differentiator in a crowded marketplace of ethical funds.

As Ave Maria Mutual Funds looks toward its next quarter-century, the launch of the Undiscovered Fund represents a strategic evolution. It reaffirms the firm's core mission while expanding the tools available to its investors. By continuing to blend disciplined financial analysis with steadfast moral conviction, the firm remains a defining force in the world of conscientious capitalism, proving that for many, the bottom line is about more than just profit.