<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027801
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 024
<NAME> DELAWARE DEVON FUND INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 201,949,732
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 210,318,908
<RECEIVABLES> 535,270
<ASSETS-OTHER> 9,230
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 210,863,408
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 995,546
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 995,546
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 207,651,046
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 852,346
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 803,005
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (649,807)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (5,502,552)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 8,369,176
<NET-ASSETS> 16,342,344
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,708,360
<INTEREST-INCOME> 149,975
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,508,142
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (649,807)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3,077,527)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (10,006,194)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (13,733,528)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 177,917
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 426,869
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (112,357,808)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 820,058
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,511,044
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 18,457,350
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 19.810
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.010
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.650)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 19.170
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.137
</TABLE>
