<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000893658
<NAME> ARK FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 220
<NAME> ARK SHORT TERM BOND INSTITUTIONAL
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2001
<PERIOD-START> MAY-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 82989
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 82183
<RECEIVABLES> 1419
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 4
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 83606
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<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 482
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 482
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 85019
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 8507
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 9577
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 63
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (1152)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (806)
<NET-ASSETS> 83124
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<INTEREST-INCOME> 2902
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (436)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2466
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (799)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2152
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 3819
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2468)
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 643
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1840)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 127
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (9061)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 65
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (353)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 336
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 498
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 89029
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.63
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.28
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.27)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.77
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.97
</TABLE>
