Exhibit (16)

                               Powers of Attorney


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

         Stephen G. Mintos, whose signature appears below, does hereby
constitute and appoint Martin E. Lybecker, Alan G. Priest, and Alyssa
Albertelli, each individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with
power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and
to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each
individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable
Fifth Third Funds (the "Trust"), to comply with the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Acts"), and any
rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all
amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement on Forms N-1A and/or N-14
pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on
behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all
such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said
Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the
undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents,
or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.



Dated: June 21, 2000                   /s/ Stephen G. Mintos
       -------------------------           -------------------------
                                           Stephen G. Mintos


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

         Gary R. Tenkman, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute
and appoint Martin E. Lybecker, Alan G. Priest, and Alyssa Albertelli, each
individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of
substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute
any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may
deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Fifth Third Funds
(the "Trust"), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Acts"), and any rules, regulations
or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in
connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the
Trust's Registration Statement on Forms N-1A and/or N-14 pursuant to said Acts,
including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or
documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm
all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be
done by virtue thereof.



Dated: June 21, 2000                   /s/ Gary R. Tenkman
       -------------------------       -------------------------
                                       Gary R. Tenkman


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

         Edward Burke Carey, whose signature appears below, does hereby
constitute and appoint Martin E. Lybecker, Alan G. Priest, and Alyssa
Albertelli, each individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with
power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and
to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each
individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable
Fifth Third Funds (the "Trust"), to comply with the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Acts"), and any
rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all
amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement on Forms N-1A and/or N-14
pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on
behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all
such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said
Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the
undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents,
or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.



Dated: June 21, 2000                   /s/ Edward Burke Carey
       -------------------------       -------------------------
                                       Edward Burke Carey


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

         Albert E. Harris, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute
and appoint Martin E. Lybecker, Alan G. Priest, and Alyssa Albertelli, each
individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of
substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute
any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may
deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Fifth Third Funds
(the "Trust"), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Acts"), and any rules, regulations
or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in
connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the
Trust's Registration Statement on Forms N-1A and/or N-14 pursuant to said Acts,
including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or
documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm
all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be
done by virtue thereof.



Dated: June 21, 2000                   /s/ Albert E. Harris
       -------------------------       -------------------------
                                       Albert E. Harris