0001048702 nmf:S000037455Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037455Member nmf:C000115636Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037456Member nmf:C000115638Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037455Member nmf:C000115634Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037456Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037455Member nmf:C000115637Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037455Member rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember nmf:C000115637Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037456Member nmf:C000115639Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037456Member nmf:C000115641Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037456Member rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember nmf:C000115641Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037455Member nmf:C000115635Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037456Member nmf:BofaMerrillLynchUsHighYieldCashPayConstrainedIndexMember 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037456Member nmf:C000115640Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037455Member rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember nmf:C000115637Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037455Member nmf:MsciWorldFreeIndexMember 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 0001048702 nmf:S000037456Member rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember nmf:C000115641Member 2012-10-29 2013-10-28 pure iso4217:USD Principal Risks 0.0075 0.0425 0.0122 688 After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Average Annual Total Returns For the Periods Ended December 31, 2012 After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. 0 This Example is intended to help you to compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return each year and no change in expenses. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 97 0.0581 The Fund seeks to maximize total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income. 0.0181 Best Quarter: Objective 0.116 -0.2323 0.01 539 -0.1184 You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Nationwide Funds. The Fund invests in a portfolio of higher-yielding, lower-rated fixed-income securities issued by foreign and U.S. companies. Under normal conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes, if any) in high-yield bonds. High-yield bonds are lower-rated or non-investment grade, and often are referred to as "junk bonds." Such securities are considered to be of poorer quality and predominantly speculative. High-yield bonds generally offer investors higher interest rates as a way to help compensate for the fact that the issuer is at greater risk of default. The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities of any maturity, but generally invests in securities having an initial maturity of more than one year. Investments in fixed-income securities may include, but are not limited to, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. Up to 25% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in foreign securities, which may include securities of issuers in emerging market countries. The Fund may also invest in currency futures and forward foreign currency exchange contracts, which are derivatives, in order to hedge against international currency exposure. In addition, these derivatives may be used for investment (non-hedging) purposes to earn income, to enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to certain markets, or to establish net short positions for individual currencies. The Fund invests in securities that the subadviser expects will appreciate in value as a result of declines in long-term interest rates or favorable developments affecting the business or prospects of the issuer which may improve the issuer's financial condition and credit rating. In selecting securities, the subadviser uses a quantitative and qualitative credit review process that assesses the ways in which macroeconomic forces (such as inflation, risk premiums and interest rates), as well as certain quantitative factors, such as historical operating results, calculation of credit ratios and expected future outlook, may affect industry trends. Against the output of this model, the subadviser considers the viability of specific debt securities, assessing management strength, market position, competitive environment and financial flexibility. 0.0755 0.1001 0.1816 -0.0038 0 1266 0.0106 0001048702 <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleShareholderFeesNationwideHighYieldBondFund column period compact * ~</div> 0.0715 -0.2299 Principal Risks 0 0.0153 951 Year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2013: 3.44% Best quarter:    19.58% 2nd qtr. of 2009 Worst quarter:    -16.49% 4th qtr. of 2008 Year-to-date total return 0.0095 If the value of the Fund's investments goes down, you may lose money. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 52.28% of the average value of its portfolio. This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay when buying and holding shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in Nationwide Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Investing with Nationwide Funds” commencing on page 18 of this Prospectus and in “Additional Information on Purchases and Sales” commencing on page 67 of the Statement of Additional Information. Annual Total Returns Institutional Class Shares (Years Ended December 31,) nationwide.com/mutualfunds Worst quarter: 2571 This Example is intended to help you to compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return each year and no change in expenses. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 0.0248 0.0051 0.0905 692 96 306 Average Annual Total Returns For the Periods Ended December 31, 2012 0 0.0501 0 <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposedNationwideGlobalEquityFund column period compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualTotalReturnsTransposedNationwideGlobalEquityFund column period compact * ~</div> 485BPOS 2013-10-17 false 2013-06-30 <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposedNationwideHighYieldBondFund column period compact * ~</div> The Fund seeks to provide high current income, as well as capital growth when consistent with high current income. Fees and Expenses Shareholder Fees (paid directly from your investment) Fees and Expenses 0.0575 0 Shareholder Fees (paid directly from your investment) Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0075 0.0075 Portfolio Turnover 0.0025 0 0.0053 0.0056 0.0051 0.0126 -0.0031 -0.0031 0.0195 0.01 FUND SUMMARY: NATIONWIDE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND The Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective. As with any fund, the value of the Fund's investmentsand therefore, the value of Fund sharesmay fluctuate. These changes may occur because of: Interest rate risk generally, when interest rates go up, the value of fixed-income securities goes down. Prices of longer-term securities generally change more in response to interest rate changes than prices of shorter-term securities. To the extent a Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in fixed-income securities with longer-term maturities, rising interest rates are more likely to cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline significantly. Credit risk a bond issuer may be unable to pay the interest or principal when due. If an issuer defaults, the Fund may lose money. This risk is particularly high for high-yield bonds. Changes in a bond issuer's credit rating or the market's perception of an issuer's creditworthiness may also affect the value of a bond. High-yield bonds risk investing in high-yield bonds and other lower-rated bonds will subject the Fund to substantial risk of loss due to issuer default, decline in market value due to adverse economic and business developments, or sensitivity to changing interest rates. Liquidity risk when there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the Fund's share price may fall dramatically. Foreign securities risk foreign securities may be more volatile, harder to price and less liquid than U.S. securities. The prices of foreign securities may be further affected by other factors, such as changes in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which the securities are traded. Emerging markets risk emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets. Since these markets are smaller than developed markets, they may be more likely to suffer sharp and frequent price changes or long-term price depression because of adverse publicity, investor perceptions or the actions of a few large investors. Many emerging markets also have histories of political instability and abrupt changes in policies. Certain emerging markets may also face other significant internal or external risks, including the risk of war, nationalization of assets, and ethnic, religious and racial conflicts. Prepayment and call risk certain bonds will be paid off by the issuer more quickly than anticipated. If this happens, the Fund may be required to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields. Extension risk when interest rates rise, certain bond obligations, such as mortgage-backed securities, will be paid in full by the issuer more slowly than anticipated. This can cause the market value of the security to fall because the market may view its interest rate as low for a longer-term investment. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities risks these securities are generally subject to the same types of risk that apply to other fixed-income securities, such as interest rate risk, credit risk and prepayment and call risk. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to extension risk. Through its investments in mortgage-backed securities, the Fund may have some exposure to subprime loans, as well as to the mortgage and credit markets generally. Subprime loans, which are loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories, have had in many cases higher default rates than loans that meet government underwriting requirements. The credit quality of most asset-backed securities depends primarily on the credit quality of the assets underlying such securities, how well the entity issuing the security is insulated from the credit risk of the originator or any other affiliated entities, and the amount and quality of any credit enhancement of the securities. Derivatives risk the Fund's investments in currency futures and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (collectively, "currency contracts") may involve a small investment relative to the amount of risk assumed. To the extent the Fund enters into these transactions, its success will depend on the subadviser's ability to predict market movements, and their use may have the opposite effect of that intended. Risks include potential loss due to the imposition of controls by a government on the exchange of foreign currencies, the loss of any premium paid to enter into the transaction, delivery failure, default by the other party, or inability to close out a position because the trading market becomes illiquid. Derivatives may involve leverage, which means that their use can significantly magnify the effect of price movements of the underlying currency or reference measures, disproportionately increasing the Fund's losses and reducing the Fund's opportunities for gains. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, including a loss that may be greater than the amount invested. Currency contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a change in the value of a currency, but they also limit any potential gains and do not protect against fluctuations in the value of the underlying bond. In addition to these risks, the Fund's portfolio managers may select securities that underperform the bond market, the Fund's benchmark or other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. If the value of the Fund's investments goes down, you may lose money. The Fund commenced operations on November 19, 2012 as the result of a reorganization in which the Fund acquired all of the assets, subject to stated liabilities, of the UBS High Yield Fund, a former series of The UBS Funds (the "Predecessor Fund"). Therefore, the returns presented for the Fund prior to that date reflect the historical performance of the Predecessor Fund. The Fund and the Predecessor Fund have substantially similar investment goals and strategies. The following bar chart and table can help you evaluate the Fund's potential risks. The bar chart shows how the Fund's annual total returns have varied from year to year. These returns do not reflect the impact of sales charges. If the applicable sales charges were included, the annual total returns would be lower than those shown. The table compares the Fund's average annual total returns to the returns of a broad-based securities index. Remember, however, that past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting nationwide.com/mutualfunds or by calling 800-848-0920. Please call 800-848-0920 for the Fund's current 30-day yield. 298 677 385 1334 662 2269 1552 You would pay the following expenses on the same investment if you did not sell your shares: 198 677 0 0 0 0.0075 The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 28.88% of the average value of its portfolio. Principal Investment Strategies 0.0055 0.0075 0 0.0025 0.007 0.0138 -0.0031 -0.0031 -0.0031 0.0075 0.015 0.0107 529 77 657 1120 1484 2101 1986 0.1143 0.1734 0.1583 -0.0159 -0.0115 -0.0013 -0.0013 0.1309 0.154 0.0584 0.0677 0.0751 0.0677 0.0704 0.0506 0.0804 0.0882 2012-11-21 2003-09-30 0.2957 0.1776 -0.4069 0.4537 0.1816 0.1335 FUND SUMMARY: NATIONWIDE GLOBAL EQUITY FUND Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes, if any) in equity securities. Investments in equity securities may include, but are not limited to, dividend-paying securities, common stock and preferred stock of U.S. and foreign issuers, although the Fund is not limited to purchasing dividend-paying securities only, and may invest in stocks that provide little to no dividend income, but which offer the potential for capital growth. The Fund may purchase stocks of U.S. and foreign companies of any size, including small-cap and mid-cap companies and which are located in either developed countries or emerging market countries. The Fund may also invest in currency futures and forward foreign currency exchange contracts, which are derivatives, in order to hedge against international currency exposure. In addition, these derivatives may be used for investment (non-hedging) purposes to earn income, to enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to certain markets, or to establish net short positions for individual currencies. The Fund’s subadviser, on behalf of the Fund, intends to diversify broadly among countries, but reserves the right to invest a substantial portion of the Fund’s assets in one or more countries if, in the subadviser’s opinion, economic and business conditions warrant such investments. The Fund invests its assets in investments that are tied economically to a number of countries throughout the world, including the United States. In the global universe, the subadviser uses a disciplined price-to-intrinsic value approach that seeks to take advantage of pricing anomalies in markets. In selecting securities, the subadviser focuses on, among other things, identifying discrepancies between what the subadviser believes is a security’s fundamental value and its market price. The Fund generally considers selling a security when it reaches a target price, fails to perform as expected, or when other opportunities appear more attractive. The Fund commenced operations on November 19, 2012 as the result of a reorganization in which the Fund acquired all of the assets, subject to stated liabilities, of the UBS Global Equity Fund, a former series of The UBS Funds (the “Predecessor Fund”). Therefore, the returns presented for the Fund prior to that date reflect the historical performance of the Predecessor Fund. The Fund and the Predecessor Fund have substantially similar investment goals and strategies. The following bar chart and table can help you evaluate the Fund’s potential risks. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s annual total returns have varied from year to year. These returns do not reflect the impact of sales charges. If the applicable sales charges were included, the annual total returns would be lower than those shown. The table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns to the returns of a broad-based securities index. Remember, however, that past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting nationwide.com/mutualfunds or by calling 800-848-0920. Year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2013: 18.45% Best quarter:    26.01% – 2nd qtr. of 2009 Worst quarter:    -22.99% – 4th qtr. of 2008 After-tax returns are shown in the table for Institutional Class shares only and will vary for other classes. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax return depends on your personal tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors in tax-deferred arrangements, such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans or certain other employer-sponsored retirement plans. The inception date for Institutional Service Class shares is November 21, 2012. Pre-inception historical performance for Institutional Service Class shares is based on the previous performance of Institutional Class shares. Performance for Institutional Service Class shares has not been adjusted to reflect a higher level of expenses than for Institutional Class shares. 0.1025 0.445 0.146 0.2888 If the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, you may lose money. 800-848-0920 These returns do not reflect the impact of sales charges. If the applicable sales charges were included, the annual total returns would be lower than those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors in tax-deferred arrangements, such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans or certain other employer-sponsored retirement plans. After-tax returns are shown in the table for Institutional Class shares only and will vary for other classes. Best quarter: 0.2601 Worst quarter: 0.1845 <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsNationwideGlobalEquityFundBarChart column period compact * ~</div> You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in Nationwide Funds. 800-848-0920 800-848-0920 Remember, however, that past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors in tax-deferred arrangements, such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans or certain other employer-sponsored retirement plans. 2013-09-30 2008-12-31 <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposedNationwideGlobalEquityFund column period compact * ~</div> Portfolio Turnover <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleShareholderFeesNationwideGlobalEquityFund column period compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpensesNationwideGlobalEquityFund column period compact * ~</div> 2013-10-28 NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FUNDS 2013-10-28 <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpensesNationwideHighYieldBondFund column period compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposedNationwideHighYieldBondFund column period compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualTotalReturnsTransposedNationwideHighYieldBondFund column period compact * ~</div> Objective Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay when buying and holding shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Nationwide Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Investing with Nationwide Funds” commencing on page 18 of this Prospectus and in “Additional Information on Purchases and Sales” commencing on page 67 of the Statement of Additional Information. 0 0 0 0 You would pay the following expenses on the same investment if you did not sell your shares: 0.0075 0.01 Principal Investment Strategies 0.0051 Performance 0.0226 0.0131 -0.0031 -0.0031 Example After-tax returns are shown in the table for Institutional Class shares only and will vary for other classes. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax return depends on your personal tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors in tax-deferred arrangements, such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans or certain other employer-sponsored retirement plans. The inception date of the Institutional Service Class shares was November 21, 2012. Pre-inception historical performance for Institutional Service Class shares is based on the previous performance of Institutional Class shares. Performance for Institutional Service Class shares has not been adjusted to reflect a higher level of expenses than for Institutional Class shares. 102 1002 369 1182 1495 1182 0 2571 0.0055 0.0055 0.0055 0.0058 0.0051 0.0125 -0.0031 0.0094 Performance 228 814 366 951 555 153 539 2101 <div style="display:none">~ http://www.nationwide.com/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsNationwideHighYieldBondFundBarChart column period compact * ~</div> 0.1634 0.1816 0.1236 -0.008 -0.0118 0.146 0.0939 0.146 0.0566 0.0637 0.0831 0.0831 0.0882 0.0803 0.0563 0.0563 0.1021 2003-09-30 2012-11-21 0.1426 0.0371 0.1061 0.2316 Example The Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective. As with any fund, the value of the Fund’s investments—and therefore, the value of Fund shares—may fluctuate. These changes may occur because of: Stock market risk – the Fund could lose value if the individual stocks in which it invests or overall stock markets in which such stocks trade go down. Foreign securities risk – foreign securities may be more volatile, harder to price and less liquid than U.S. securities. The prices of foreign securities may be further affected by other factors, such as changes in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which the securities are traded. Emerging markets risk – emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets. Since these markets are smaller than developed markets, they may be more likely to suffer sharp and frequent price changes or long-term price depression because of adverse publicity, investor perceptions or the actions of a few large investors. Many emerging markets also have histories of political instability and abrupt changes in policies. Certain emerging markets may also face other significant internal or external risks, including the risk of war, nationalization of assets, and ethnic, religious and racial conflicts. Country risk – if the Fund emphasizes one or more countries, it may be more susceptible to the financial, market, political or economic events affecting the particular issuers and industries participating in such countries than funds that do not emphasize particular countries. Preferred stock risk – a preferred stock may decline in price, or fail to pay dividends when expected, because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status. Preferred stocks often behave like debt securities, but have a lower payment priority than the issuer’s bonds or other debt securities. Therefore, they may be subject to greater credit risk than those of debt securities. Preferred stocks also may be significantly less liquid than many other securities, such as corporate debt or common stock. Smaller company risk – smaller companies are usually less stable in price and less liquid than are larger, more established companies. Smaller companies are more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business and economic developments and may have more limited resources. Therefore, they generally involve greater risk. Derivatives risk – the Fund’s investments in currency futures and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (collectively, “currency contracts”) may involve a small investment relative to the amount of risk assumed. To the extent the Fund enters into these transactions, its success will depend on the subadviser’s ability to predict market movements, and their use may have the opposite effect of that intended. Risks include potential loss due to the imposition of controls by a government on the exchange of foreign currencies, the loss of any premium paid to enter into the transaction, delivery failure, default by the other party, or inability to close out a position because the trading market becomes illiquid. Derivatives may involve leverage, which means that their use can significantly magnify the effect of price movements of the underlying currency or reference measures, disproportionately increasing the Fund’s losses and reducing the Fund’s opportunities for gains. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, including a loss that may be greater than the amount invested. Currency contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a change in the value of a currency, but they also limit any potential gains and do not protect against fluctuations in the value of the underlying stock. In addition to these risks, the Fund’s portfolio managers may select securities that underperform the stock market, the Fund’s benchmark or other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. If the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, you may lose money. 0.0068 Annual Total Returns – Institutional Class Shares (Years Ended December 31,) 0.0083 0.1441 50000 February 28, 2015 The bar chart shows how the Fund’s annual total returns have varied from year to year. nationwide.com/mutualfunds Remember, however, that past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. 2009-06-30 2008-12-31 Year-to-date total return 2013-09-30 0.5228 100000 The bar chart shows how the Fund's annual total returns have varied from year to year. These returns do not reflect the impact of sales charges. If the applicable sales charges were included, the annual total returns would be lower than those shown. After-tax returns are shown in the table for Institutional Class shares only and will vary for other classes. 0.0344 2009-06-30 0.1958 -0.1649 Nationwide Mutual Funds (the "Trust") and Nationwide Fund Advisors (the "Adviser") have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses to 0.75% until February 28, 2015. Under the expense limitation agreement, the level to which operating expenses are limited applies to all share classes, excluding any taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, Rule 12b-1 fees, short-sale dividend expenses, administrative services fees, other expenses which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with any merger or reorganization, and may exclude other non-routine expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business. The expense limitation agreement may be changed or eliminated at any time but only with the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Trust is authorized to reimburse the Adviser for management fees previously waived and/or for expenses previously paid by the Adviser, provided, however, that any reimbursements must be paid at a date not more than three years after the fiscal year in which the Adviser waived the fees or reimbursed the expenses and the reimbursements do not cause the Fund to exceed the expense limitation that was in place at the time the Adviser waived the fees or reimbursed the expenses. Information about administrative services fees can be found in "Investing with Nationwide Funds" on page 21 of this Prospectus. Prior to September 30, 2003, Class C shares were subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 1.00%; this front-end sales charge is not reflected in the average annual total returns presented for the Class C shares shown above. Nationwide Mutual Funds (the "Trust") and Nationwide Fund Advisors (the "Adviser") have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses to 0.95% until February 28, 2015. Under the expense limitation agreement, the level to which operating expenses are limited applies to all share classes, excluding any taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, Rule 12b-1 fees, short-sale dividend expenses, administrative services fees, other expenses which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with any merger or reorganization, and may exclude other non-routine expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business. The expense limitation agreement may be changed or eliminated at any time but only with the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Trust is authorized to reimburse the Adviser for management fees previously waived and/or for expenses previously paid by the Adviser, provided, however, that any reimbursements must be paid at a date not more than three years after the fiscal year in which the Adviser waived the fees or reimbursed the expenses and the reimbursements do not cause the Fund to exceed the expense limitation that was in place at the time the Adviser waived the fees or reimbursed the expenses. Information about administrative services fees can be found in "Investing with Nationwide Funds" on page 21 of this Prospectus.