<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial
information extracted from Commonfund Institutional
Funds Inc. financial statements at October 31, 2000
and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> Commonfund Short Duration Fund
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 17,467,326
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 17,480,800
<RECEIVABLES> 133,156
<ASSETS-OTHER> 421,819
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 18,035,775
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 200,000
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 61,783
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 261,783
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 17,733,571
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,771,247
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,020,000
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 4,806
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 22,141
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 13,474
<NET-ASSETS> 17,773,992
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 530,332
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 20,669
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 509,663
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 22,141
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 13,474
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 545,278
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 504,857
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 898,154
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 197,263
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 50,356
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 545,278
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.29
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.03
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.29
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.03
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.25
</TABLE>
