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TURNING POINT USA INC
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 800835023 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE Z99 · Unknown · Very Large (>$50M) · tpusa.com
revenue
$80.6M
expenses
$71.9M
net assets
$23.6M
employees
709
volunteers
181,334
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

TURNING POINT USA, INC. IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 501(C)(3), TO EMPOWER INFORMED CIVIC AND CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT GROUNDED IN AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM AND A POSITIVE SPIRIT OF ACTION. TURNING POINT USA GUIDES CITIZENS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, VALUES, AND MOTIVATION, SO THEY CAN MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO RESTORE TRADITIONAL AMERICAN VALUES LIKE PATRIOTISM, RESPECT FOR LIFE, LIBERTY, FAMILY, AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Turning Point USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that identifies, educates, trains, and organizes students to promote conservative principles such as fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government. The organization builds a grassroots activist network on high school and college campuses across the United States. It also hosts conferences and produces media content to engage young people.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $11.00M
    TURNING POINT USA RAISES FUNDS FOR ITS LONG-TERM VITALITY AND SPECIAL PROJECTS, ALL IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSES. TURNING POINT USA DISTRIBUTED $11,000,000 TO ITS RELATED ENTITY TURNING POINT ENDOWMENT, WHICH IS ANOTHER 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT CORPORATION ORGANIZED AND OPERATED AS A TYPE I SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION EXCLUSIVELY FOR TURNING POINT USA'S BENEFIT.
  2. #2 $10.86M
    THE TURNING POINT USA FIELD PROGRAM FULFILLS A CRITICAL ROLE IN TURNING POINT'S MISSION BY EDUCATING, TRAINING, AND MOBILIZING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN INFORMED CIVIC AND CULTURAL OUTREACH AND ACTIVISM GROUNDED IN AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM AND AMERICA'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES. TURNING POINT USA FIELD REPRESENTATIVES OPERATE ON OVER 3,000 COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SUPPORTING THE TURNING POINT MISSION BY PROVIDING INTERACTIVE TRAINING, DISTRIBUTING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND ENGAGING STUDENTS IN DISCUSSIONS ON TODAY'S MOST PRESSING ISSUES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 6/30/2022, THE FIELD PROGRAM ORGANIZED AND CHARTERED 1,205 CAMPUS CHAPTERS TO FACILITATE THESE ON-CAMPUS EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS AND WAS ALSO ACTIVE ON NEARLY 2,000 MORE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THE FIELD PROGRAM HOSTED 372 ON-CAMPUS EDUCATIONAL AND ACTIVISM EVENTS THAT WERE ATTENDED BY 50 OR MORE STUDENTS EACH. THE FIELD PROGRAM'S EFFORTS DIRECTLY IMPACTED OVER 250,000 STUDENTS.
named programs · 15 · from sources

what they call their work

Activist Conferences
Hosts 6 National Summits and 8 Regional Conferences annually, featuring conservative thought leaders and training sessions for student activists from all 50 states
Alumni Association
Engages post-graduate activists through job boards, regional happy hours, mentorship programs, and exclusive events
Culture Apothecary
A health and wellness podcast hosted by Alex Clark, featuring guests who provide remedies to heal culture physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Educators’ Summit
Gathering for educators to discuss conservative principles in education and strategies for promoting free markets and limited government in schools
Faith Events
Organizes Christian gatherings and online events to unite believers in defense of biblical principles
Innovative Grassroots Messaging
Uses slogans like 'Big Government Sucks' and 'Gen Z is Gen Free' combined with pop culture to engage young people; includes digital content creation and influencer outreach
Media Department
Identifies and equips social media influencers to spread conservative ideas on campuses and across digital platforms
National Field Program
Supports students on over 3,500 campuses through tabling, face-to-face conversations, literature distribution, activist registration, and event hosting; employs over 350 full- and part-time staff
Only in America
Highlights stories of entrepreneurship and success that are unique to the United States.
Prove Me Wrong
An on-the-ground debate series hosted by Charlie Kirk, inviting students to challenge his views on political and cultural issues.
Shows
Produces original daily and weekly content like POPlitics, Only In America, Real America with Graham Allen, Benny on the block, and Freedom Fights to spread its message and recruit activists online.
TPUSA Originals
Original videos created to promote free markets, limited government, and fiscal responsibility.
TPUSA Shows
Produces original media content including Prove Me Wrong, Only in America, TPUSA Originals, Culture Apothecary, and Turning Point Tonight to educate and entertain while promoting conservative values
Turning Point Tonight
A daily news show hosted by Jobob, breaking down the biggest stories with analysis and humor, broadcast live on Real America’s Voice.
Young Women’s Leadership Summit
Annual summit focused on empowering young conservative women with leadership training and networking opportunities
activities · 6 groups

what they do

  • Grassroots Mobilization & Advocacy Campaigns 18 activities
    • Conservative Influencer Curation
      Curates conservative influencers who cover topics including politics and pop culture to further the organization's mission.
    • Conservative Movement Advocacy
      Promotes the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government through movement growth via donor engagement and by engaging citizens across local communities, high schools, university campuses, businesses, houses of worship, and online.
    • Conservative advocacy and community engagement
      Advocates for freedom, free markets, and limited government by engaging citizens on campuses, in communities, and online through tabling, tours, donor outreach, and public events.
    • Conservative advocacy and public engagement
      Engages citizens across campuses, communities, and digital platforms through tabling events, tours like 'This is The Turning Point Tour' and the American Comeback Tour, and pro-life and voter registration activities.
    • Conservative influencer curation and network development
      Identifies and supports conservative influencers who produce content on politics and pop culture to expand the reach of conservative messaging.
    • Conservative influencer curation and network expansion
      Curates conservative influencers who engage on politics and pop culture and employs over 350 staff focused on activist recruitment and voter registration to grow the movement.
    • Conservative movement expansion through public engagement
      Advances principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government by engaging citizens across campuses, high schools, businesses, houses of worship, and digital platforms through donor outreach and public campaigns.
    • Grassroots advocacy for freedom and limited government
      Engages citizens across high schools, universities, businesses, houses of worship, and online platforms to advocate for freedom, free markets, and limited government through donor engagement and community mobilization.
    • Influencer curation and network expansion
      Curates conservative influencers who engage on politics and pop culture and employs over 350 staff to recruit activists and register voters.
    • Influencer curation and staff recruitment
      Curates conservative influencers in politics and pop culture and employs over 350 staff focused on activist recruitment and voter registration.
    • Mobile advocacy and campus outreach tours
      Conducts nationwide tours including the 'This is The Turning Point Tour' and the American Comeback Tour, operating informational tables at colleges and public venues to engage students and citizens in advocacy for conservative principles.
    • On-campus advocacy and outreach
      Conducts grassroots advocacy by operating informational tables, distributing literature, registering activists, and hosting campus events at universities and colleges nationwide.
    • Staff-led activist recruitment and voter engagement
      Employs over 350 staff members dedicated to recruiting activists and registering voters as part of broader movement-building efforts.
    • Student activism and leadership development
      Empowers and organizes students across the country through campus presence on over 3,500 campuses, daily support via literature distribution and table operations, and leadership training to develop conservative leaders.
    • Student and Campus Engagement
      Educates, empowers, organizes, and mobilizes students across the country to develop conservative leaders, establishing a presence on over 3,500 campuses across all 50 states. This includes setting up tables, distributing literature, registering activists, and hosting events.
    • Student leadership development and campus organizing
      Empowers and mobilizes students across the country through campus activism, table operations, literature distribution, and event hosting, with a presence on over 3,500 campuses in all 50 states.
    • Student leadership development and campus organizing
      Empowers and mobilizes students across the country through campus activism, daily support via literature distribution and table operations, and a presence on over 3,500 campuses in all 50 states to cultivate conservative leaders.
    • Student organizing and leadership development
      Empowers and mobilizes students across the country through campus organizing, leadership training, and activism workshops, with a presence on over 3,500 campuses in all 50 states.
  • Alumni Community Engagement & Support 5 activities
    • Alumni Networking and Support
      Organizes regional events and bi-annual happy hours across the United States to facilitate alumni networking, provides quarterly job board emails and mentorship opportunities, and distributes a monthly newsletter with updates and connection opportunities.
    • Alumni engagement and professional development
      Supports alumni through regional networking events, national summit gatherings, a monthly newsletter, welcome packets with exclusive materials, job board emails, and mentorship opportunities.
    • Alumni engagement and professional development
      Supports alumni through regional happy hours, networking events, career resources including quarterly job board emails, mentorship opportunities, newsletters, and exclusive welcome packets.
    • Alumni engagement and professional development
      Supports alumni through regional networking events, national summit gatherings, a monthly newsletter, welcome packets with exclusive merchandise, job board emails, and mentorship opportunities to sustain long-term involvement.
    • Alumni engagement and professional development
      Supports alumni through networking events, career-building workshops, mentorship opportunities, job board resources, and a monthly newsletter to sustain long-term engagement.
  • Youth and Professional Leadership Conferences 5 activities
    • National and Regional Conferences/Summits
      Hosts 6 National Summits and 8 Regional Conferences annually, attracting students from all 50 states, along with specific events like the Young Women's Leadership Summit, Student Action Summit, America Fest, and Educators' Summit.
    • National and regional event programming
      Hosts 6 National Summits and 8 Regional Conferences annually, along with targeted events such as the Student Action Summit, Educators' Summit, Young Women's Leadership Summit, America Fest, and the All American Halftime Show.
    • National and regional event programming
      Hosts large-scale national and regional events including summits, conferences, and tours—such as the Student Action Summit, Educators' Summit, and Regional Happy Hours—drawing participants from across the U.S.
    • National and regional event programming
      Hosts large-scale events including six National Summits and eight Regional Conferences annually, as well as themed summits such as the Young Women's Leadership Summit, Student Action Summit, Educators' Summit, and America Fest, drawing participants from all 50 states.
    • National and regional events and summits
      Hosts six National Summits and eight Regional Conferences annually, along with major events such as the Student Action Summit, Educators' Summit, America Fest, Young Women's Leadership Summit, and the All American Halftime Show.
  • Public Opinion Research & Advocacy Campaigns 5 activities
    • Research and Reporting
      Investigates issues affecting various industries and demographic trends, and tracks alleged connections between different social issues, publishing reports on findings.
    • Research on demographic and industry issues
      Conducts investigations and publishes reports on topics including demographic shifts in religion in Texas, challenges in the U.S. cattle industry, and alleged voter fraud connections.
    • Research on demographic and industry issues
      Conducts investigations and publishes reports on topics including demographic shifts in religion in Texas, the U.S. cattle industry, and alleged voter fraud connections.
    • Research on political and demographic issues
      Conducts investigative research on topics including voter fraud allegations, demographic shifts in religion, and agricultural policy impacts on the U.S. cattle industry.
    • Research on political, demographic, and industry issues
      Conducts investigations and publishes reports on topics including voter fraud allegations, demographic shifts in religion, and challenges in the U.S. cattle industry.
  • Live Music Festival & Concert Production 1 activity
    • American Comeback Tour
      Conducts the American Comeback Tour across the United States, with multiple legs throughout the year.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Conservative media production and broadcasting
      Produces original video content, a weekly podcast, a live daily news show on Real America’s Voice, and a debate series featuring student engagement, all promoting free markets, limited government, and American success stories.
    • Media Content Production
      Produces various media content including a debate series, videos highlighting American entrepreneurship, original video content promoting conservative principles, a weekly podcast on wellness, and a live daily news show analyzing current events.
    • Media and content production
      Produces original media content including a daily live news show, weekly podcast, video series, and debate programming that promote conservative perspectives on politics, culture, and economics.
    • Original media production and broadcasting
      Produces a live daily news show, weekly podcasts, debate series, and original video content promoting conservative values and American success stories across digital platforms.
    • Original media production and broadcasting
      Produces a live daily news show on Real America’s Voice, weekly podcast episodes, debate series featuring student engagement, and video content promoting free markets and American success stories.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$80.64M
Contributions & grants$79.26M98%
Program service revenue$1.58M2%
Investment income$36K0%
Other revenue$-239K
expenses
Total expenses$71.86M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$17.17M
Grants paid out$12.78M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$26.84M
Cash$10.77M
Investments$0
Liabilities$3.28M
Net assets$23.56M
Liquid reserves1.8 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +44.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 7
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JOSHUA THIFAULT ADVANCEMENT STRATEGIC DIRE 40 $444K
CHARLES KIRK PRESIDENT/CEO 65 $396K
TYLER BOWYER COO 40 $256K
BENJAMIN JOHNSON MANAGEMENT/CONTRIBUTOR 40 $164K
JUSTIN OLSON ASSISTANT TREASURER/CFO (THRU 10/1/21) 50 $150K
ALEXANDRA CLARK MANAGEMENT/CONTRIBUTOR 40 $123K
VERONICA PETERSON ASSISTANT SECRETARY 40 $15K
board members · 4
  • DAVID ENGLEHARDT — DIRECTOR
  • DOUG DEGROOTE — DIRECTOR
  • MIKE MILLER — DIRECTOR
  • TOM SODEIKA — SECRETARY/TREASURER
relationships · 7

who they work with

  • Development Team Partner — Team responsible for managing donor engagement and 1776 Society membership inquiries.
  • Idaho Partner — One of the states partnering with TPUSA on outreach and programming
  • Real America’s Voice Partner — Platform broadcasting the live daily news show 'Turning Point Tonight' weeknights at 10pm ET/7pm PT.
  • South Carolina Partner — Announced a partnership with TPUSA to collaborate on state-level initiatives
  • TPUSA Shows Partner — Produces digital content to educate and recruit activists through shows like POPlitics and Only In America.
  • Turning Point USA’s Media Department Partner — Identifies and equips social media influencers to spread conservative ideas on campuses and in media.
  • hundreds of companies Partner — Corporate partners across various industries engaged through sponsorship opportunities.