Turning Point USA

Turning Point USA
AbbreviationTPUSA
FormationJune 5, 2012 (2012-06-05)
TypeNonprofit organization
80-0835023
PurposeAdvocacy of conservatism on education campuses
Headquarters4940 East Beverly Road Phoenix, Arizona 85044[1]
Region served
United States
LeaderCharlie Kirk
Revenue (2022)
Increase US$55 million[2]
Websitetpusa.com

Turning Point USA (TPUSA) is an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses.[3][4][5][6][7] It was founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk and Bill Montgomery.[5][8] TPUSA's affiliate groups include Turning Point Endowment, Turning Point Action and TPUSA Faith.[9][10][11] TPUSA has been described as the fastest growing organization of campus chapters in America, and according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, is a dominant force in campus conservatism.[3][12]

In 2016, the organization launched Professor Watchlist, a website that lists academic staff purported by TPUSA to "discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom".[5] TPUSA has attempted to influence student government elections in an effort to "combat liberalism on college and university campuses".[13][14][15] 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.[16][17][18]

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.

  1. ^ "Turning Point USA Opens National Headquarters In Phoenix". The Daily Independent. Sun City, Arizona. August 12, 2018. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  2. ^ "Turning Point USA". ProPublica. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Kelderman, Eric (June 28, 2021). "The Far Right's College Crusade". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Lartey, Jamiles (May 10, 2018). "Trump praises controversial pundit Candace Owens as a 'very smart thinker". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Turning Point USA". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  6. ^ Doran, Emily (March 23, 2017). "Breaking down the 'free speech zones'". Grand Valley Lanthorn. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  7. ^ Rebekah Riess (August 23, 2022). "Texas 19-year-old arrested for allegedly making threats against Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit". CNN. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  8. ^ DeMarche, Edmund (July 30, 2020). "Bill Montgomery, co-founder of Turning Point USA, dies". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  9. ^ "Turning Point USA". Anti-Defamation League. February 14, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference WaPo 2021-07-29 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Wilson, John K. (September 26, 2022). "Conservatives have turned against academic freedom again. Here's why". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Vasquez, Michael (May 7, 2017). "Inside a Stealth Plan for Political Influence". The Chronicle of Higher Education. ISSN 0009-5982. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference New Yorker was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Politico 2018-04-06 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Kamenetz, Anya (September 30, 2021). "School boards are asking for federal help as they face threats and violence". NPR. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  17. ^ Kamenetz, Anya (October 26, 2021). "A look at the groups supporting school board protesters nationwide". NPR. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  18. ^ Camera, Lauren (September 2, 2021). "The United States of Outrage". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 9, 2022.