FOEM was founded in 1998 and established as a 501(c)3 charitable organization by the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP) as a philanthropic arm of the osteopathic emergency medicine community. Its purpose is to develop grants and awards to support research in emergency medicine conducted by or under the jurisdiction of osteopathic physicians. FOEM is the only national organization created for the specific purpose of providing funds for research and education solely for osteopathic emergency medicine.