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 primary $11.00MTURNING 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 $10.86MTHE 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 · 16
what they do
direct service · 6
- Alumni engagement and professional developmentSupports 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 developmentSupports alumni through networking events, career-building workshops, mentorship opportunities, job board resources, and a monthly newsletter to sustain long-term engagement.
- Media and content production Original Podcast and Media ProductionProduces 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.
- National and regional event programming Advocacy Leadership ConveningsHosts 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 events and summits Advocacy Leadership ConveningsHosts 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.
- Original media production and broadcasting Original Podcast and Media ProductionProduces a live daily news show, weekly podcasts, debate series, and original video content promoting conservative values and American success stories across digital platforms.
advocacy · 3
- Conservative advocacy and community engagement Community Policy Education & AdvocacyAdvocates 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 movement expansion through public engagement Community Policy Education & AdvocacyAdvances 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.
- On-campus advocacy and outreachConducts grassroots advocacy by operating informational tables, distributing literature, registering activists, and hosting campus events at universities and colleges nationwide.
research · 2
- Research on political and demographic issues Policy Research & Public EducationConducts 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 Policy Research & Public EducationConducts investigations and publishes reports on topics including voter fraud allegations, demographic shifts in religion, and challenges in the U.S. cattle industry.
capacity building · 5
- Conservative influencer curation and network development Policy Research & Public EducationIdentifies and supports conservative influencers who produce content on politics and pop culture to expand the reach of conservative messaging.
- Influencer curation and staff recruitmentCurates conservative influencers in politics and pop culture and employs over 350 staff focused on activist recruitment and voter registration.
- Staff-led activist recruitment and voter engagement Student & Advocate MobilizationEmploys over 350 staff members dedicated to recruiting activists and registering voters as part of broader movement-building efforts.
- Student leadership development and campus organizing Student & Advocate MobilizationEmpowers 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 organizing and leadership development Student & Advocate MobilizationEmpowers 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.
strategies · 9
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any approach shared with other orgs to see the full field.
- Corporate and movement ecosystem partnerships corporate_partnership_outreach unique to this orgExpands organizational reach and supports ideological workforce development by partnering with corporations for brand exposure and connecting alumni to employment opportunities within the broader conservative movement.
- Culture war-centered conservative amplification culture_war_offensive unique to this orgAdvances conservative ideology by proactively engaging in cultural conflicts using populist messaging, media content, influencer amplification, and investigative reporting to expand reach and influence across demographics.
- Culture-integrated conservative messaging and media engagement culture-politics integration unique to this orgCombines political education with pop culture, wellness, and faith-based themes to make conservative ideology more accessible and engaging, particularly to youth, using media content, podcasts, and populist messaging to expand reach and relevance.
- Faith-integrated conservative community building faith-based_gathering unique to this orgStrengthens conservative identity and solidarity by organizing faith-based gatherings that unite Christians around shared biblical values, blending spiritual wellness with cultural and political engagement.
- Grassroots mobilization for conservative cultural and political engagement grassroots conservative advocacy unique to this orgEmpowers students and citizens to actively participate in advancing conservative principles—such as free markets, limited government, and religious values—through campus activism, live debates, speaking tours, and field reporting, leveraging urgency and mobilization rhetoric to counter the radical left.
- Grassroots mobilization through campus and cultural engagement grassroots conservative advocacy unique to this orgEmpowers students and young conservatives by combining campus activism, debate, speaking tours, and cultural relevance to foster political engagement rooted in conservative principles. This strategy integrates culture and politics to effectively reach and activate youth.
- Strategic corporate partnerships for movement amplification corporate_partnership_outreach unique to this orgLeverages corporate sponsorships to increase brand visibility and resource capacity through event and media platform collaborations, strengthening the infrastructure of the conservative movement.
- Sustained activist engagement via alumni network development alumni_engagement_model unique to this orgActivates post-graduate conservatives through structured programming, regional events, career support, and exclusive benefits to maintain long-term involvement and financial support within the conservative movement ecosystem.
- Sustained alumni engagement through networked career and ideological development alumni_engagement_model unique to this orgActivates and retains post-graduate conservatives through structured programming, regional networking events, and career support within ideologically aligned organizations, fostering long-term financial and activist involvement in the conservative movement.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
the money
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
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.