<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000730004
<NAME> THE EMPIRE BUILDER TAX FREE BOND FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> THE EMPIRE BUILDER TAX FREE BOND FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-2001
<PERIOD-START> MAR-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 106972109
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 108579464
<RECEIVABLES> 2007984
<ASSETS-OTHER> 6530
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 110593978
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 280733
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 280733
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 110140140
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3043677<F1>
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3085712<F1>
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 26241
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 1460491
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1607355
<NET-ASSETS> 110313245
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 30251
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3043300
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 547811
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2525740
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 382027
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 4945231
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 7852998
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1151679<F1>
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0<F1>
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0<F1>
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 109337<F1>
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 211811<F1>
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 60439<F1>
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 4330042
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 26241
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 1842518
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 215983
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 553287
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 50988875<F1>
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 16.32<F1>
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.38<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.82<F1>
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.38<F1>
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00<F1>
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00<F1>
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.14<F1>
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.19<F1>
<FN>
<F1> Builder Class
</FN>
</TABLE>
