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American Osteopathic Foundation Inc

EIN 36-6056120 · Chicago, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • Only 49% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION IS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE AND ENHANCE PATIENT-CENTERED CARE.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
49%
Reserves
70.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
12
Volunteers
179
Highest pay
$341,104, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 70.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    49% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $706,693 spent. FOR 75 YEARS, THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION (AOF) HAS OPERATED AS THE CHARITABLE HEART OF THE OSTEOPATHIC PROFESSION. AOF ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PROMOTE, ENCOURAGEAND DISSEMINATE THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE. THE AOF IS THE ONLY NATIONAL OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION THAT SUPPORTS AND INVESTS IN THE WHOLE PROFESSION BY RECOGNIZING OSTEOPATHIC STUDENTS, RESIDENTS AND PRACTICING PHYSICIANS BASED ON PROFESSIONAL MERIT.EDUCATION: THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION (AOF) PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL STUDENTS IN AN EFFORT TO DEFRAY COSTS OF MEDICAL SCHOOL.
  2. $200,498 spent. RECOGNITION AWARDS: THE AOF'S INDUSTRY RECOGNITION AWARDS CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT TO THE OSTEOPATHIC PROFESSION.
  3. $430,309 spent. RESEARCH: AOF SUPPORTS OSTEOPATHIC RESEARCHERS WHO EXPLORE NEW MEDICAL INSIGHTS AND MODALITIES TO ENHANCE PATIENT CENTERED CARE. AOF GRANTS PRIMARILY SUPPORT EARLY INVESTIGATORS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS TO ENCOURAGE THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREERS.
  4. $51,509 spent. INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN OUTREACH: THE AOF PROVIDES GRANTS TO HELP DEFRAY INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL COSTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE OSTEOPATHIC PROFESSION WHO PROVIDE MEDICAL SUPPORT TO UNDERSERVED, UNDERDEVELOPED AND/OR DISASTER-STRICKEN AREAS ACROSS THE WORLD. THIS GRANT PROGRAM BRINGS MEDICAL ATTENTION TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS WHO MAY HAVE OTHERWISE GONE WITHOUT CARE. AN EXPANSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN OUTREACH PROGRAM INCLUDES GRANTS TO DOMESTIC ORGANIZATIONS RUN BY AN OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN(S) THAT TREAT PATIENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY(S). ORIGINALLY INCORPORATED INTO AOF'S PORTFOLIO TO PROVIDE MEDICAL AID FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC, MULTI-YEAR INTERNATIONAL GRANTS ARE NOW PART OF THE OVERALL PROGRAM.
  5. COMMUNITY SERVICE: THE AOF OFFERS GRANTS TO SUPPORT OSTEOPATHIC EFFORTS THAT PROVIDE COMMUNITY WELLNESS SERVICES AND/OR ACCESSIBLE CARE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1951.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.