TPUSA & THE IMPORTANCE OF 5013C TRANSPARENCY
Even when controversy is unintentional, its consequences can be far-reaching. The assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, set off a cascade of organizational missteps—from public relations blunders to conflicting details about the circumstances surrounding his killing, and intensifying scrutiny over the behavior and intentions of current leadership. The appropriation and allocation of TPUSA’s finances has also come under renewed examination.
In 2024, the organization reportedly brought in an astonishing $85 million, the vast majority of which came from donors. It has been claimed that before his death, Kirk had requested a DOGE-style audit of Turning Point and its affiliated entities—including Turning Point Endowment, Turning Point Faith, and Turning Point Action. Whether this is accurate may never be fully confirmed. What can be confirmed is that TPUSA had a long-standing history of financial questions dating back to at least 2020—questions that Kirk was aware of and that continue to fuel debate today.
No matter how you feel about Turning Point’s mission or ideology, there is legitimate cause to consider the financial transparency of all 501(c)(3) nonprofits, particularly given their tax-exempt status. Donors should have the right to not only see how their contributions are spent, but also to know who the largest donors are. Large donors often wield significant influence, and it is not unreasonable to be concerned that such influence could lean toward self-interest rather than public benefit.
If you have experience in nonprofit work, you know the energy that accompanies an audit. Program managers race between departments to tie up loose ends in client files. Directors huddle behind closed doors reviewing compliance documentation. Staff scramble to assist wherever possible. It’s tense—and avoidable. In July 2020, ProPublica reported that TPUSA’s independent auditor had affiliations with its co-founder Bill Montgomery, who was also among several insiders receiving millions in contracts from the organization for services like printing, payroll, and fundraising. This raised eyebrows about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of financial reporting.
Some argue that donating money isn’t about oversight—it’s about generosity. But contributions represent more than dollars; they represent trust, time, and commitment. Modern management information systems are fully capable of capturing and reporting pertinent financial data in clear, accessible language provided staff are properly trained to use them. With effective tools—including the New Era Toolkit—organizations can routinely document income, payroll, operating costs, and mission-specific spending in real time, rather than scrambling to assemble this information during an audit. This level of consistency doesn’t replace annual audits; it supports them. When systems are used effectively and information is maintained as part of daily operations, audits become far less disruptive and stressful, serving as a confirmation of responsible stewardship rather than a crisis response.
Transparency around who the largest donors of a 5013C are should also be made available to the public. In TPUSA’s case, questions are swirling around their largest donors and foreigns interests as a conservative advocacy group, that touts America First, this is obviously problematic. Think of it this way, would you want your high school or college aged child to be involved in a anti-drug organization whose largest donor was a drug cartel? That’s an extreme example, but large donors matter.
Transparency about major donors should also be part of this conversation. In TPUSA’s case, questions continue to circulate about the identities and motives of its largest contributors. As a conservative advocacy group that champions America First principles, undisclosed funding sources or foreign interests would understandably raise concerns. Think of it this way: would you want your high school or college-aged child involved in an anti-drug organization whose largest donor was a drug cartel? That’s an extreme example, but the underlying point is clear: large donors matter.
Nonprofit organizations exist to serve the public good, and public trust is their most valuable asset. That trust is earned through openness, accountability, and ethical stewardship of resources—not merely through branding or rhetoric. As organizations grow in size and influence, so too should the standards by which they are held. Greater financial transparency isn’t a threat to nonprofit missions; it’s the foundation that allows them to endure and thrive. Communities, donors, and the broader public are better served when they have clear insight into how funds are raised, managed, and spent. In the long run, transparency strengthens trust—and trust strengthens impact.
