<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> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 58,862,820
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 99,812,468
<RECEIVABLES> 195,454
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 20,363
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 100,028,285
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 109,248
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 109,248
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 47,493,157
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4,708,583
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4,392,396
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 40,949,648
<NET-ASSETS> 99,919,037
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 955,522
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<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,030,523
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (75,001)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 11,593,607
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 22,863,110
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 34,381,716
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1,725,055
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 983,130
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 777,082
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 110,139
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 38,478,183
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,607,680
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 824,419
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
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<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 82,500,558
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.99
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.02)
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.39
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 21.22
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.25
</TABLE>