Turning Point USA

Turning Point USA, Inc. (TPUSA) is an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses. It was founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk and Bill Montgomery. TPUSA's affiliate groups include Turning Point Endowment, Turning Point Action and TPUSA Faith. TPUSA has been described as the fastest growing organization of campus chapters in America and one of the most powerful conservative youth groups in the nation.

In 2016, the organization launched Professor Watchlist, a website that lists academic staff that, according to TPUSA, "discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom." TPUSA has attempted to influence student government elections in an effort to "combat modern liberalism on college and university campuses." In 2021, TPUSA started its School Board Watchlist website, which publishes names and photos of school board members who have adopted mask mandates or anti-racist curricula.

Though aligned with the Christian right, TPUSA has led its operations separate from traditional conservative organizations nationwide. TPUSA hosts several annual conferences, including the Student Action Summit, Young Women's Leadership Summit, Young Black Leadership Summit, and AmericaFest. The organization is funded by conservative donors and foundations, including Republican Party politicians.

In May 2012, 18-year-old Charlie Kirk gave a speech at Benedictine University's Youth Government Day. Impressed, retired marketing entrepreneur and Tea Party activist Bill Montgomery encouraged Kirk to postpone college and engage full-time in political activism. A month later, the day after Kirk graduated from high school, they launched Turning Point USA, a section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Montgomery became Kirk's mentor, and worked behind the scenes handling the paperwork for the organization. Montgomery often described himself as the group's co-founder, although this was not officially recognized by the group or by Kirk.

At the 2012 Republican National Convention, Kirk met Foster Friess, a Republican donor, and persuaded him to make a "five-figure" donation to the organization. Friess also was on the organization's advisory council, alongside Ginni Thomas, wife of U.S. Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas. Barry Russell, president and CEO of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), was a key advisor as of 2019.

Between July 2016 and June 2017, the organization raised in excess of US$8.2 million. The same year, leaked records found that the group had funneled "thousands of dollars" into student governments to elect conservatives. Donors include Home Depot co-founder Bernard Marcus, former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, Richard Uihlein, and the Donors Trust on behalf of private donors.

In March 2023, it was announced via Twitter by Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens that the BLEXIT Foundation and TPUSA have partnered. BLEXIT would be incorporating their message through TPUSA's branding style and corporate structure, while retaining Candace Owens and Brandon Tatum in leadership roles.^{[independent source needed]} On September 10, 2025, co-founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, during what would have been a series of events planned by the organization. On September 18, 2025, Kirk's widow Erika was selected to succeed Kirk as CEO.

Kirk was CEO, chief fundraiser, and the public face of Turning Point USA from its founding until his assassination in September 2025. The New York Times credits him with turning the organization into a "well-funded media operation, backed by conservative megadonors like the Wyoming businessman Foster Friess." Michael Beckel, from the funding watchdog group Issue One, found that oftentimes these megadonors used "dark money vehicles to keep identities out of the limelight."