<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE FORUM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT DATED MAY 31, 2000
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 281
<NAME> INVESTORS EQUITY FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 17757032
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 34424883
<RECEIVABLES> 27806
<ASSETS-OTHER> 2432
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 34455121
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 57099
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 57099
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 12569991
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2508360
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2480350
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 5160180
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 16667851
<NET-ASSETS> 34398022
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 264525
<INTEREST-INCOME> 34883
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 371740
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (72332)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 5788225
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (658802)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5057091
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 3019893
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 168093
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 372770
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 232687
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 2263847
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 2401305
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 219196
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 479105
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 33722482
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.96
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.03)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.03
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 1.25
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.71
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.10
</TABLE>
