<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000893658
<NAME> ARK FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 181
<NAME> ARK EQUITY INDEX FUND RETAIL A
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2001
<PERIOD-START> MAY-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 115891
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 122645
<RECEIVABLES> 83
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 122728
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 751
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 751
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 94749
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 514
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 504
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 65
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 20409
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6754
<NET-ASSETS> 121977
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 801
<INTEREST-INCOME> 56
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (195)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 662
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 18156
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (19460)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (642)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (28)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 55
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (47)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 46
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 92
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 2253
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 146
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 429
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 144765
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.79
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.18)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.60
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.50
</TABLE>
