<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001048133
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP FOUNDATION FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 052
<NAME> DELAWARE S&P 500 INDEX FUND INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 29,063,174
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 29,154,278
<RECEIVABLES> 203,303
<ASSETS-OTHER> 4,793
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 29,362,374
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 238,507
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 238,507
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 34,354
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 28,995,988
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,819,387
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 166,927
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (118,967)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 45,565
<NET-ASSETS> 23,905,347
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 174,698
<INTEREST-INCOME> 56,515
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 64,286
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 166,927
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (118,967)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 45,565
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 93,525
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 25,255,171
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,568,430
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 29,123,867
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,553
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 273,463
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 19,359,150
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.500
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.066
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.086)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.480
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.400
</TABLE>
