Michael Dell Is Dropping $250 in Some Kids’ Trump Accounts—What to Know

If your child is too old to qualify for the federal government’s $1,000 Trump Account contribution, there is another source of money they may be eligible for: a $250 contribution from billionaires Michael and Susan Dell.

The Dells have pledged $6.25 billion to put $250 into Trump Accounts for up to 25 million children under age 10. The contribution is designed to give older kids who missed out on the federal seed money a head start on saving for their future.

“We’re essentially seeding these accounts to get them started on their path to investing and compounding,” Michael Dell told TIME earlier this May. In the in-depth feature he explained that he hoped other billionaires would follow suit. (Ray Dalio, among others, has also promised to make donations.) 

As of August 31, 2026, eligible accounts will begin receiving the $250 donation from the Dell Foundation. Here’s what families need to know about these donations.

Who qualifies for Michael Dell’s $250?

All children under 18 with a valid Social Security number are eligible to establish a Trump Account (also known as 530A), and those born between 2025 and 2028 will qualify for the government seed money. But the Dells’ contribution is intended for children who were born between 2016 and 2024, making kids between the ages two to ten eligible for free money as well.

In other words, if you have a three-year-old and a newborn, they may be eligible for different types of initial funding. The newborn could qualify for the $1,000 federal contribution, while the older child could potentially qualify for the $250 Dell contribution, depending on their eligibility.

In order to benefit, the child must live in a qualifying U.S. ZIP code. The first 25 million eligible children born between 2016 and 2024, living in ZIP codes with median household incomes below $150,000 will receive a $250 contribution.

You can enter your child’s birth year and ZIP code in the form on the Babylist Money page to see if your child qualifies. While this tool will confirm if your child is eligible, only the first 25 million activated Trump Accounts will receive the Dell contribution. 

Not every child under 10 automatically gets the $250. And because eligibility is based in part on ZIP code, children living in lower-income households in neighborhoods with significant wealth inequality could miss out if higher-earning neighbors push the area’s median income above the cutoff.

As of July 27, 2026, seven million 530A accounts have been opened, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Although it’s unclear how many of these are for children eligible for the Dell contribution, you might want to open up an account sooner rather than later if you’re looking to take advantage of the money.

When will the $250 show up in your child’s account?

Starting in September 2026, the $250 donation from the Dell Foundation will be automatically deposited into qualifying accounts.

Trump Accounts launched July 4, 2026, officially allowing families, friends, and employers to begin making contributions to accounts on that date. While the $1,000 seed funding for babies born after January 1, 2025, was rolled out pretty quickly after launch, families with children born before December 31, 2024, had a longer wait.

What do you need to do to get the funding?

Unlike employer-matching contributions to the accounts, you don’t need to make a separate contribution to the Trump Account in order to receive this philanthropic funding. The most important step you should take is to make sure your child has an activated Trump Account and meets the eligibility requirements.

Because the program is still rolling out, you should also check the official Trump Accounts and Invest America websites for updates. The Dell donation is limited to the first 25 million children who sign up. Just don’t respond to unsolicited messages or pay anyone who claims they can unlock the money for you. (There are fraudsters out there!)

You don’t have to wait for the $250 to start saving

The Dell contribution is a nice boost, but it’s just one potential source of money for a child’s Trump Account. You can always start putting in your own money today if it fits your financial goals, or open an account if you want to take advantage of future contributions from family members, employers, states, or other donors. 

“Families shouldn’t let the timing of a one-time contribution delay their own savings plan,” says Jenny Stewart, CFP at Glassman Wealth Services. “The most powerful factor in long-term investing is often time. Even modest contributions made early can benefit from decades of compounding, potentially making a far greater impact than waiting for a one-off deposit to arrive.”

Grandparents, friends and other family members can contribute to a child’s 530A account, up to the account’s $5,000 annual contribution limit. Employers can also contribute a matching amount, while contributions from qualifying charitable organizations and government entities can be made outside that annual limit. Family members can continue adding money over time, giving the account more opportunity to grow before the child turns 18.

And if you’re already thinking about how to get grandparents, aunts, and uncles involved, you can set up a Babylist Early Investor account to give friends and family an easy way to contribute toward a Trump Account or 529 plan. That can be especially useful if you’re past the baby shower stage, and relatives are looking for gifts that don't involve adding another toy to an already-full playroom. 

The Bottom Line

The Dell Foundation contribution gives older children access to some seed funding they might have missed out on if they were born before 2025, but it’s limited to the first 25 million children who open accounts. You don’t have to make any further contributions to take advantage of the seed funding.

And don’t forget: if you want to give your older child a bigger financial head start, you don’t have to just rely on a billionaire. You—and your family and friends—can contribute today.