<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001012401
<NAME> THE GANNETT WELSH & KOTLER FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> GW&K EQUITY FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 51,702,966
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 91,117,569
<RECEIVABLES> 249,832
<ASSETS-OTHER> 11,221
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 36,703
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 91,415,325
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,009,918
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 115,507
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1,125,425
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 44,512,344
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4,564,807
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4,392,396
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (70,199)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 6,433,152
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 39,414,603
<NET-ASSETS> 90,289,900
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 392,654
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 462,853
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (70,199)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 6,550,527
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 21,328,065
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 27,808,393
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1,725,055
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 371,282
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 309,010
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 110,139
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 28,849,046
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,607,680
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 370,283
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 504,853
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 74,121,241
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.99
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.02)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 6.20
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .39
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 19.78
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.25
</TABLE>