<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 10/31/96
000 C000000 0000069369
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION
001 B000000 811-435
001 C000000 6142497869
002 A000000 THREE NATIONWIDE PLAZA 3-26-04
002 B000000 COLUMBUS
002 C000000 OH
002 D010000 43216
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 4
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 NATIONWIDE FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 NATIONWIDE GROWTH FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C020300 NATIONWIDE BOND FUND
007 C030300 N
007 C010400 4
007 C020400 NATIONWIDE MONEY MARKET FUND
007 C030400 N
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 NATIONWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-125000
008 D01AA01 COLUMBUS
008 D02AA01 OH
008 D03AA01 43216
011 A00AA01 NATIONWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-12500000
011 C01AA01 COLUMBUS
011 C02AA01 OH
011 C03AA01 43216
<PAGE> PAGE 2
012 A00AA01 NATIONWIDE INVESTORS SERVICES, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-9999999
012 C01AA01 COLUMBUS
012 C02AA01 OH
012 C03AA01 43216
013 A00AA01 KPMG PEAT MARWICK
013 B01AA01 COLUMBUS
013 B02AA01 OH
013 B03AA01 43215
015 A00AA01 FIFTH THIRD BANK
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 CINCINNATI
015 C02AA01 OH
015 C03AA01 45263
015 E01AA01 X
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 15
019 C00AA00 NATIONWIDE
020 A000001 GOLDMAN SACHS
020 B000001 13-5108880
020 C000001 83
020 A000002 DONALDSON LUFKIN
020 B000002 13-2741729
020 C000002 74
020 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY
020 B000003 13-5655998
020 C000003 60
020 A000004 SALOMON BROTHERS
020 B000004 13-5365580
020 C000004 56
020 A000005 MESIROW
020 B000005 36-2183840
020 C000005 47
020 A000006 SANFORD BERSTEIN
020 B000006 13-2625874
020 C000006 45
020 A000007 BEAR STEARNS
020 B000007 13-4946705
020 C000007 39
020 A000008 SMITH BARNEY
020 B000008 13-1912900
020 C000008 39
020 A000009 EXECUTION SERVICES
020 B000009 13-2862329
020 C000009 38
020 A000010 BUCKINGHAM RESEARCH
020 B000010 13-3134008
020 C000010 35
021 000000 814
022 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 B000001 13-5674085
022 C000001 1707218
022 D000001 3574
022 A000002 GOLDMAN SACHS
022 B000002 13-5108880
022 C000002 1008404
022 D000002 0
022 A000003 J.P. MORGAN
022 B000003 13-3224016
022 C000003 361459
022 D000003 2998
022 A000004 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000004 13-2663822
022 C000004 357175
022 D000004 0
022 A000005 ASSOCIATES CORP.
022 B000005 74-1494554
022 C000005 109966
022 D000005 0
022 A000006 BEAR STEARNS
022 B000006 13-4946705
022 C000006 109228
022 D000006 0
022 A000007 COMMERCIAL CREDIT
022 B000007 52-0883351
022 C000007 101736
022 D000007 0
022 A000008 MORGAN STANLEY
022 B000008 13-5655998
022 C000008 99197
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 NORWEST FINANCIAL
022 B000009 42-1186565
022 C000009 97028
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 FORD FINANCIAL
022 B000010 38-1612444
022 C000010 90719
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 5201861
023 D000000 160079
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 4
034 00AA00 N
035 00AA00 0
036 B00AA00 0
037 00AA00 N
038 00AA00 0
039 00AA00 N
040 00AA00 N
042 A00AA00 0
042 B00AA00 0
042 C00AA00 0
042 D00AA00 0
042 E00AA00 0
042 F00AA00 0
042 G00AA00 0
042 H00AA00 0
043 00AA00 0
044 00AA00 0
045 00AA00 Y
046 00AA00 N
047 00AA00 Y
048 00AA00 0.500
048 A01AA00 0
048 A02AA00 0.000
048 B01AA00 0
048 B02AA00 0.000
048 C01AA00 0
048 C02AA00 0.000
048 D01AA00 0
048 D02AA00 0.000
048 E01AA00 0
048 E02AA00 0.000
048 F01AA00 0
048 F02AA00 0.000
048 G01AA00 0
048 G02AA00 0.000
048 H01AA00 0
048 H02AA00 0.000
048 I01AA00 0
048 I02AA00 0.000
048 J01AA00 0
048 J02AA00 0.000
048 K01AA00 0
048 K02AA00 0.000
049 00AA00 N
050 00AA00 N
051 00AA00 N
052 00AA00 N
053 A00AA00 Y
053 B00AA00 Y
053 C00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 5
054 B00AA00 Y
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 Y
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 Y
055 A00AA00 N
055 B00AA00 N
056 00AA00 Y
057 00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 N
059 00AA00 Y
060 A00AA00 Y
060 B00AA00 Y
061 00AA00 250
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A00AA00 MARYLAND FIDELITY & DEPOSIT CO.
080 C00AA00 10000
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 15
082 A00AA00 N
082 B00AA00 0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
<PAGE> PAGE 6
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
024 000100 Y
025 A000101 MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
025 B000101 13-5674085
025 C000101 D
025 D000101 4455
025 D000102 0
025 D000103 0
025 D000104 0
025 D000105 0
025 D000106 0
025 D000107 0
025 D000108 0
028 A010100 8049
028 A020100 0
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 17750
028 B010100 7656
028 B020100 3552
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 9080
028 C010100 8976
028 C020100 0
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 6139
028 D010100 12543
028 D020100 0
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 5440
028 E010100 7131
028 E020100 3619
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 19642
028 F010100 10322
028 F020100 0
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 8732
028 G010100 54677
<PAGE> PAGE 7
028 G020100 7171
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 66783
028 H000100 38229
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 1089
030 B000100 4.50
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 525
031 B000100 0
032 000100 0
033 000100 564
062 A000100 N
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 0.0
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
066 A000100 Y
066 E000100 Y
067 000100 N
068 A000100 N
068 B000100 N
069 000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 Y
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 N
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 N
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 8
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 Y
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 N
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 N
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 N
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 N
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 152063
071 B000100 162300
071 C000100 883091
071 D000100 17
072 A000100 12
072 B000100 1573
072 C000100 20514
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 4426
072 G000100 0
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 699
072 J000100 43
072 K000100 92
072 L000100 47
072 M000100 22
072 N000100 0
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 18
072 R000100 14
072 S000100 0
072 T000100 0
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 35
072 X000100 5396
072 Y000100 0
072 Z000100 16691
<PAGE> PAGE 9
072AA000100 59252
072BB000100 0
072CC010100 127452
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 16077
072DD020100 0
072EE000100 42515
073 A010100 0.3450
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.9300
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 0
074 B000100 591
074 C000100 6343
074 D000100 4715
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 948856
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 0
074 K000100 783
074 L000100 1752
074 M000100 50
074 N000100 963090
074 O000100 2726
074 P000100 1690
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 84
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 958590
074 U010100 46958
074 U020100 0
074 V010100 21.37
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 44762
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 885184
076 000100 0.00
024 000200 Y
025 A000201 MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
025 B000201 13-5674085
025 C000201 E
025 D000201 17563
025 A000202 BEAR STEARNS
025 B000202 13-4946705
<PAGE> PAGE 10
025 C000202 E
025 D000202 14358
025 A000203 MORGAN STANLEY
025 B000203 13-5655998
025 C000203 E
025 D000203 5025
025 D000204 0
025 D000205 0
025 D000206 0
025 D000207 0
025 D000208 0
028 A010200 7173
028 A020200 0
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 7247
028 B010200 6462
028 B020200 1307
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 6155
028 C010200 7524
028 C020200 0
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 5150
028 D010200 4126
028 D020200 0
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 21150
028 E010200 4196
028 E020200 1702
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 9706
028 F010200 5067
028 F020200 0
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 9664
028 G010200 34548
028 G020200 3009
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 59072
028 H000200 21633
029 000200 Y
030 A000200 1030
030 B000200 4.50
030 C000200 0.00
031 A000200 494
031 B000200 0
032 000200 0
033 000200 535
062 A000200 N
062 B000200 0.0
062 C000200 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 11
062 D000200 0.0
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 0.0
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 0.0
062 M000200 0.0
062 N000200 0.0
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 0.0
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 0.0
066 A000200 Y
066 D000200 Y
067 000200 N
068 A000200 N
068 B000200 N
069 000200 N
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 Y
070 B010200 N
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 N
070 C020200 N
070 D010200 N
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 N
070 E020200 N
070 F010200 N
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 N
070 G020200 N
070 H010200 N
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 N
070 K010200 N
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 Y
070 L020200 Y
070 M010200 N
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 N
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 N
070 O020200 N
<PAGE> PAGE 12
070 P010200 N
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 N
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 N
070 R020200 N
071 A000200 330744
071 B000200 327065
071 C000200 585012
071 D000200 26
072 A000200 12
072 B000200 3349
072 C000200 8494
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 3212
072 G000200 0
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 683
072 J000200 32
072 K000200 89
072 L000200 49
072 M000200 18
072 N000200 0
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 13
072 R000200 17
072 S000200 0
072 T000200 0
072 U000200 0
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 26
072 X000200 4139
072 Y000200 0
072 Z000200 7704
072AA000200 45485
072BB000200 0
072CC010200 20002
072CC020200 0
072DD010200 7521
072DD020200 0
072EE000200 55131
073 A010200 0.1550
073 A020200 0.0000
073 B000200 1.2400
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 0
074 B000200 0
074 C000200 60450
074 D000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 13
074 E000200 0
074 F000200 592328
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 2528
074 K000200 211
074 L000200 427
074 M000200 95
074 N000200 656039
074 O000200 0
074 P000200 339
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 84
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 655616
074 U010200 49153
074 U020200 0
074 V010200 13.97
074 V020200 0.00
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 43739
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 642439
076 000200 0.00
024 000300 Y
025 A000301 MORGAN STANLEY
025 B000301 13-5655998
025 C000301 D
025 D000301 4717
025 A000302 BEAR STEARNS
025 B000302 13-4946705
025 C000302 D
025 D000302 3303
025 A000303 LEHMAN BROTHERS
025 B000303 13-2501865
025 C000303 D
025 D000303 1266
025 A000304 MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
025 B000304 13-5674085
025 C000304 D
025 D000304 578
025 D000305 0
025 D000306 0
025 D000307 0
025 D000308 0
028 A010300 2174
<PAGE> PAGE 14
028 A020300 614
028 A030300 0
028 A040300 2205
028 B010300 1588
028 B020300 609
028 B030300 0
028 B040300 1971
028 C010300 1763
028 C020300 605
028 C030300 0
028 C040300 1979
028 D010300 1514
028 D020300 606
028 D030300 0
028 D040300 2569
028 E010300 593
028 E020300 604
028 E030300 0
028 E040300 1615
028 F010300 496
028 F020300 595
028 F030300 0
028 F040300 1749
028 G010300 8128
028 G020300 3633
028 G030300 0
028 G040300 12088
028 H000300 6543
029 000300 Y
030 A000300 202
030 B000300 4.50
030 C000300 0.00
031 A000300 93
031 B000300 0
032 000300 0
033 000300 109
062 A000300 Y
062 B000300 0.0
062 C000300 0.0
062 D000300 0.4
062 E000300 0.0
062 F000300 0.0
062 G000300 0.0
062 H000300 0.0
062 I000300 1.7
062 J000300 0.0
062 K000300 0.0
062 L000300 1.7
062 M000300 4.0
062 N000300 0.0
062 O000300 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 15
062 P000300 78.5
062 Q000300 13.7
062 R000300 0.0
063 A000300 0
063 B000300 10.9
064 A000300 N
066 A000300 N
067 000300 N
068 A000300 N
068 B000300 N
069 000300 N
070 A010300 Y
070 A020300 Y
070 B010300 N
070 B020300 N
070 C010300 N
070 C020300 N
070 D010300 N
070 D020300 N
070 E010300 N
070 E020300 N
070 F010300 N
070 F020300 N
070 G010300 N
070 G020300 N
070 H010300 N
070 H020300 N
070 I010300 N
070 I020300 N
070 J010300 Y
070 J020300 N
070 K010300 N
070 K020300 N
070 L010300 Y
070 L020300 Y
070 M010300 N
070 M020300 N
070 N010300 N
070 N020300 N
070 O010300 N
070 O020300 N
070 P010300 N
070 P020300 N
070 Q010300 N
070 Q020300 N
070 R010300 N
070 R020300 N
071 A000300 50848
071 B000300 49855
071 C000300 132709
071 D000300 39
<PAGE> PAGE 16
072 A000300 12
072 B000300 9682
072 C000300 0
072 D000300 0
072 E000300 0
072 F000300 664
072 G000300 0
072 H000300 0
072 I000300 161
072 J000300 16
072 K000300 56
072 L000300 10
072 M000300 4
072 N000300 0
072 O000300 0
072 P000300 0
072 Q000300 3
072 R000300 2
072 S000300 0
072 T000300 0
072 U000300 0
072 V000300 0
072 W000300 7
072 X000300 923
072 Y000300 0
072 Z000300 8759
072AA000300 0
072BB000300 171
072CC010300 0
072CC020300 2045
072DD010300 8801
072DD020300 0
072EE000300 0
073 A010300 0.6175
073 A020300 0.0000
073 B000300 0.0000
073 C000300 0.0000
074 A000300 0
074 B000300 578
074 C000300 2231
074 D000300 128209
074 E000300 0
074 F000300 0
074 G000300 0
074 H000300 0
074 I000300 0
074 J000300 973
074 K000300 38
074 L000300 2595
074 M000300 30
074 N000300 134654
<PAGE> PAGE 17
074 O000300 994
074 P000300 381
074 Q000300 0
074 R010300 0
074 R020300 0
074 R030300 0
074 R040300 26
074 S000300 0
074 T000300 133253
074 U010300 14264
074 U020300 0
074 V010300 978.00
074 V020300 0.00
074 W000300 0.0000
074 X000300 8611
074 Y000300 0
075 A000300 0
075 B000300 132709
076 000300 0.00
024 000400 Y
025 A000401 MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
025 B000401 13-5674085
025 C000401 D
025 D000401 29181
025 A000402 JP MORGAN
025 B000402 13-3224016
025 C000402 D
025 D000402 25541
025 A000403 BEAR STEARNS
025 B000403 13-4946705
025 C000403 D
025 D000403 22904
025 A000404 GOLDMAN SACHS
025 B000404 13-5108880
025 C000404 D
025 D000404 18069
025 A000405 MORGAN STANLEY
025 B000405 13-5655998
025 C000405 D
025 D000405 13844
025 A000406 SMITH BARNEY
025 B000406 13-1912900
025 C000406 D
025 D000406 9051
025 D000407 0
025 D000408 0
028 A010400 61611
028 A020400 2604
028 A030400 0
028 A040400 71765
028 B010400 58544
<PAGE> PAGE 18
028 B020400 2544
028 B030400 0
028 B040400 50810
028 C010400 66210
028 C020400 2664
028 C030400 0
028 C040400 61654
028 D010400 47835
028 D020400 2677
028 D030400 0
028 D040400 66759
028 E010400 80566
028 E020400 2637
028 E030400 0
028 E040400 55024
028 F010400 69840
028 F020400 2811
028 F030400 0
028 F040400 42398
028 G010400 384606
028 G020400 15937
028 G030400 0
028 G040400 348411
028 H000400 0
029 000400 N
030 A000400 0
030 B000400 0.00
030 C000400 0.00
031 A000400 0
031 B000400 0
032 000400 0
033 000400 0
062 A000400 Y
062 B000400 2.4
062 C000400 0.0
062 D000400 0.0
062 E000400 0.0
062 F000400 0.0
062 G000400 0.0
062 H000400 0.0
062 I000400 92.4
062 J000400 0.0
062 K000400 0.0
062 L000400 5.2
062 M000400 0.0
062 N000400 0.0
062 O000400 0.0
062 P000400 0.0
062 Q000400 0.0
062 R000400 0.0
063 A000400 44
<PAGE> PAGE 19
063 B000400 0.0
064 A000400 N
066 A000400 N
067 000400 N
068 A000400 N
068 B000400 N
069 000400 N
070 A010400 Y
070 A020400 N
070 B010400 N
070 B020400 N
070 C010400 N
070 C020400 N
070 D010400 N
070 D020400 N
070 E010400 N
070 E020400 N
070 F010400 N
070 F020400 N
070 G010400 N
070 G020400 N
070 H010400 N
070 H020400 N
070 I010400 N
070 I020400 N
070 J010400 Y
070 J020400 N
070 K010400 N
070 K020400 N
070 L010400 Y
070 L020400 Y
070 M010400 N
070 M020400 N
070 N010400 N
070 N020400 N
070 O010400 N
070 O020400 N
070 P010400 N
070 P020400 N
070 Q010400 N
070 Q020400 N
070 R010400 N
070 R020400 N
071 A000400 0
071 B000400 0
071 C000400 0
071 D000400 0
072 A000400 12
072 B000400 36273
072 C000400 0
072 D000400 0
<PAGE> PAGE 20
072 E000400 0
072 F000400 3281
072 G000400 0
072 H000400 0
072 I000400 654
072 J000400 42
072 K000400 164
072 L000400 26
072 M000400 18
072 N000400 0
072 O000400 0
072 P000400 0
072 Q000400 14
072 R000400 11
072 S000400 0
072 T000400 0
072 U000400 0
072 V000400 0
072 W000400 27
072 X000400 4237
072 Y000400 328
072 Z000400 32364
072AA000400 0
072BB000400 0
072CC010400 0
072CC020400 0
072DD010400 32359
072DD020400 0
072EE000400 4
073 A010400 0.0493
073 A020400 0.0000
073 B000400 0.0000
073 C000400 0.0000
074 A000400 0
074 B000400 0
074 C000400 729727
074 D000400 0
074 E000400 0
074 F000400 0
074 G000400 0
074 H000400 0
074 I000400 0
074 J000400 0
074 K000400 116
074 L000400 0
074 M000400 284
074 N000400 730127
074 O000400 0
074 P000400 551
074 Q000400 0
074 R010400 0
<PAGE> PAGE 21
074 R020400 0
074 R030400 0
074 R040400 76
074 S000400 0
074 T000400 729500
074 U010400 729501
074 U020400 0
074 V010400 1.00
074 V020400 0.00
074 W000400 1.0000
074 X000400 25318
074 Y000400 0
075 A000400 656161
075 B000400 0
076 000400 0.00
SIGNATURE WILLIAM G. GOSLEE JR
TITLE TREASURER
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000069369
<NAME> NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> NATIONWIDE FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 586877361
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 960505467
<RECEIVABLES> 2534120
<ASSETS-OTHER> 50014
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 963089601
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2726188
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1773643
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 4499831
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 524392231
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 46957777
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 45863506
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1378050
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 59191383
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 373628106
<NET-ASSETS> 958589770
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 20514352
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1573774
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 5396704
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 16691422
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 59251910
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 127452048
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 203395380
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 16077181
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 42514603
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 5349375
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 7129736
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2874632
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 162923427
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 763809
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 42454076
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4425921
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5396704
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 885184114
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.35
<PER-SHARE-NII> .36
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.98
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .35
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .93
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 20.41
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .61
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000069369
<NAME> NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> NATIONWIDE GROWTH FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 494088843
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 652778128
<RECEIVABLES> 3166680
<ASSETS-OTHER> 94763
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 656039571
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 423866
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 423866
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 451169909
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 49152969
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 44109209
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 297667
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 45458844
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 158689285
<NET-ASSETS> 655615705
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 8494220
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3349087
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 4139368
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7703939
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 45484621
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 20001960
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 73190520
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 7521249
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 55130738
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 7069963
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 6978391
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4952188
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 72688850
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 114977
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 55104961
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3212196
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4139368
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 642439241
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.22
<PER-SHARE-NII> .16
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.24
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .16
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 1.12
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.34
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .64
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000069369
<NAME> NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> NATIONWIDE BOND FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 128346516
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 131018346
<RECEIVABLES> 3606119
<ASSETS-OTHER> 29236
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 134653701
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 994063
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 406906
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1400969
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 140039149
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14264079
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 14068847
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 56278
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (9514525)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2671830
<NET-ASSETS> 133252732
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 9670983
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 922683
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 8748300
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (160481)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (2045242)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6542577
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 8801481
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1897464
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2486318
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 784086
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (379852)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 109459
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 9354044
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 663545
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 922683
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 132709010
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.50
<PER-SHARE-NII> .62
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.16)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .62
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.34
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .70
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000069369
<NAME> NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> NATIONWIDE MONEY MARKET FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 729727060
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 729727060
<RECEIVABLES> 116465
<ASSETS-OTHER> 283618
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 730127143
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 627381
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 627381
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 729501084
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 729501084
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 604713369
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (1322)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 729499762
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 36273232
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3908760
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 32364472
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 32364472
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 35359207
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 4106
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 746407569
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 652583762
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 30963908
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 121788874
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (6587)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 4106
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3280802
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4236836
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 656161205
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> .05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.05)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .60
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>