The Arkansas Osteopathic Foundation was founded in 1985 and chartered by the State of Arkansas as a 501 c(3) nonprofit, charitable organization. Because of the need for additional physicians in the state, especially those in primary care, members of the Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association provided wholehearted support of the Foundation by first granting the Foundation a substantial loan, then by individually pledging contributions of $1,000 or more plus voluntary quarterly gifts.  The AOF has continued to grow is governed by a Board of Trustees.