Who founded Turning Point USA and what roles do they currently hold?

1. The founding: a youth movement built by Charlie Kirk

Turning Point USA began as a student-focused conservative organization founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012 when he was 18; multiple accounts describe him as the originator of the group and its chief organizer in the early years ^{[1] [5]}. Coverage from encyclopedic and TPUSA sources traces the organization’s rise from a small start to a national student movement claiming thousands of campus chapters ^{[1] [6]}.

2. Kirk’s role before his death: the face, fundraiser and executive

Reporting and organizational materials identify Charlie Kirk as the organization’s founder, president and its public face; he served as the executive director, chief fundraiser and principal spokesperson for TPUSA through 2025 ^{[5] [2]}. News accounts and TPUSA documentation note that Kirk organized large rallies, campus tours and media efforts that made him the movement’s central operator ^{[2] [6]}.

3. The 2025 turning point: assassination and leadership transition

Multiple sources report that Charlie Kirk was assassinated during a campus event on September 10, 2025; within days TPUSA’s board selected Erika Kirk, his widow, to succeed him as CEO ^{[3] [4]}. TPUSA’s own pages and contemporary news coverage describe Erika Kirk being appointed CEO and board chair and taking a leading public role in TPUSA events and the organization’s post-shooting strategy ^{[4] [7]}.

4. Erika Kirk’s current roles and public activities

TPUSA’s team page and related coverage list Erika Kirk as CEO and board chair of Turning Point USA following her appointment after Charlie Kirk’s death; she has been publicly representing the organization at events and interviews, and has discussed political plans such as supporting potential candidates ^{[4] [7]}. Media coverage of TPUSA events since the transition documents Erika Kirk speaking at rallies and participating in organizational tours that continue TPUSA’s campus outreach ^{[7] [6]}.

5. Other founders and alternate accounts

Some outlets and background pages note Bill Montgomery as a co‑founder alongside Charlie Kirk, indicating that the organization’s origin is sometimes presented as a partnership rather than the work of a single individual ^[8]. Sources differ in emphasis: TPUSA’s own materials and many profiles focus on Kirk as the founder, while other directories and summaries include Montgomery in the founding story ^{[5] [8]}.

6. Context and contested legacy

Encyclopedic and media sources describe Turning Point USA as a major conservative youth organization that raised substantial funds and drew national attention; reporting also records controversies tied to its tactics, political posture and influence on youth politics ^{[1] [2]}. After Charlie Kirk’s death, TPUSA has continued high-profile activities—promoting AmericaFest and campus tours and reinforcing the founder’s legacy in its messaging ^{[9] [10]}.

7. Limitations and what the sources do not say

Available sources provided here do not offer a detailed corporate governance record or the formal minutes of the board vote that named Erika Kirk, beyond TPUSA’s public announcement and team listing ^{[4] [3]}. Sources in this selection also do not provide exhaustive biographical detail on Bill Montgomery’s ongoing role within TPUSA beyond references to him as a co‑founder ^[8].

8. Bottom line

The consistent picture across TPUSA’s own pages, encyclopedias and news outlets is that Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and led it as its public face and chief fundraiser until his assassination on September 10, 2025 ^{[1] [2] [3]}. Following his death, Erika Kirk was appointed CEO and board chair and now serves as the organization’s public leader ^{[4] [7]}. Sources disagree only on emphasis about co‑founding credit, with some naming Bill Montgomery as a co‑founder alongside Kirk ^[8].