Turning Point USA has seen a flood of donations and chapter requests following the assassination of its founder, Charlie Kirk, earlier in September.
Newsweek reached out to Turning Point USA through the organization’s press inquiries form for comment.
Why It Matters
Kirk, 31, was shot during a speech at Utah Valley University on September 10 during his “American Comeback Tour.” A suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, is in custody, charged with aggravated murder and other offenses.
Kirk played a key role in organizing young Republican voters through Turning Point USA, which organized students on high school and college campuses across the country. Conservatives have pledged to continue funding and supporting the organization following Kirk’s death.
What To Know
Conservatives have responded to the fatal shooting by showing support for Turning Point USA over the past few weeks. The organization wrote in a September 16 post on X that it has received more than 54,000 requests from high school or college students across the country to either begin a chapter or join an existing one.
There were about 900 college chapters and 1,200 college chapters prior to the assassination, reported The Guardian.
The organization has also begun fundraising efforts since his death, according to The Arizona Republic, which last week reported that it sent out on September 14 a fundraising pitch that read, “Erika Kirk: I refuse to let the movement Charlie built die. It will only grow — stronger, bolder, louder. Join me.”
Turning Point USA’s homepage also includes options for users to make donations of up to $10,000. The organization has not publicly disclosed the exact amount it has raised from these efforts following Kirk’s death.
One prominent fundraiser, Lynn Friess, announced that she would donate $1 million to Turning Point USA, according to Fox Business.
Conservative activist Tyler Bowyer wrote on X on September 16 that more than 15,000 tickets had been sold for AmericaFest and more than 520,000 pieces of Turning Point USA merchandise had been purchased since Kirk’s killing.
Two other fundraisers have also raised millions of dollars for the Kirk family.
One fundraiser set up on GiveSendGo by ALP Nicotine Pouches has raised $5.4 million as of early Monday afternoon, while another created by the Friends of the Kirk Family has raised $2.3 million.
A funeral was held for Kirk in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday. Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk, spoke along with President Donald Trump and other prominent conservatives during the funeral.
Meanwhile, Robinson remains detained. He faces the death penalty for the shooting.
What People Are Saying
Arizona GOP consultant Chuck Coughlin told The Guardian: “Charlie was an extraordinary fundraiser with deep ties to President Trump and his son Don Jr. He is a big loss to them and they will be scrambling to fill that void.”
President Donald Trump said during Kirk’s funeral: “He was a missionary with a noble spirit and a great, great purpose. He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.”
Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet told The Arizona Republic: “To see the outpouring of love and support, and to see people going back to church and praying and doing candlelight vigils and paying tribute to him in all these creative, magnificent, wonderful ways, has been so, so amazing. And I think it’s a real testament to his life and his legacy.”
What Happens Next