<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000893658
<NAME> ARK FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 150
<NAME> ARK EQUITY INCOME FUND INSTITUTIONAL
<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> 59426
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 85685
<RECEIVABLES> 231
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 85917
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 232
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 232
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 52158
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6524
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6958
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 7268
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 26259
<NET-ASSETS> 85685
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 942
<INTEREST-INCOME> 94
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (438)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 598
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3634
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 539
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4771
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (575)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 185
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (620)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1385)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3634
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (1)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 305
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 473
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 86625
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.09
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.58
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.09)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.58
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.00
</TABLE>
