A lot of parents are hearing "$1,000 from the government" and wondering if that's the whole story. It's not. Depending on when your child was born and where you live, they could be eligible for more. Here's every potential source of funding, broken down.

Not sure if your child qualifies yet? Check eligibility in 30 seconds at investamericaquiz.com.

The Federal $1,000 Seed Contribution

Every eligible child born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028 gets a one-time $1,000 deposit from the U.S. Treasury once an account is opened.

To qualify, your child needs to be a U.S. citizen with a valid Social Security Number. You have to actively open the account — it doesn't happen automatically. And the $1,000 doesn't count against the annual contribution limit, so your family can still add up to $5,000 on top of it.

Children born before 2025 can still have a Trump Account. They just don't get the government seed. See who qualifies for Invest America for the full eligibility breakdown.

The main action item right now: file IRS Form 4547 with your 2025 tax return by April 15, 2026. That's what triggers the election and locks in your child's account.

The Dell Foundation's $250 Donation

In December 2025, Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to contribute $250 to roughly 25 million children's Trump Accounts.

A few things to know about eligibility for the Dell contribution: it targets children age 10 and under at the start of 2026, and it focuses on ZIP codes with a median household income of $150,000 or less. Like the government seed, the Dell donation doesn't count toward the annual $5,000 family contribution limit.

This one matters most for kids who don't qualify for the federal seed. If your child was born before 2025, they missed the government $1,000 — but they may still be eligible for the Dell $250 if they meet the age and income criteria.

Ray and Barbara Dalio's $250 Contribution

Ray and Barbara Dalio committed around $75 million to fund an additional $250 per child in Connecticut, targeting approximately 300,000 children in qualifying ZIP codes.

This is part of a broader effort Dalio is calling the "50 State Challenge" — an attempt to get philanthropists across all 50 states to fund similar contributions in their own regions. The Dalio contribution doesn't replace the federal seed. It stacks on top for eligible kids.

So a newborn in a qualifying Connecticut ZIP code could potentially receive the $1,000 government seed, $250 from Dell, and $250 from Dalio — $1,500 before the family adds a single dollar.

Annual Contributions from Family and Employers

Beyond the seed and philanthropic funds, your family can contribute up to $5,000 per year to your child's Trump Account from all sources combined. That includes you, your spouse, grandparents, other family members, and employers.

Employer contributions are capped at $2,500 per year and count toward the $5,000 total. The government seed and qualifying charitable contributions don't count against it.

There's no earned income requirement, so anyone can contribute regardless of employment. And there's no lifetime cap, just the annual $5,000 limit. For more detail, see can parents add more money to a Trump Account.

What the Numbers Actually Look Like

Trump Accounts invest in low-cost S&P 500 or U.S. equity index funds. Here's what the growth could look like at a 6% average annual return, starting at birth:

| Scenario | Balance at Age 18 |

|---|---|

| $1,000 seed only, no family contributions | ~$2,900 |

| $1,000 seed + $1,000/year | ~$33,000 |

| $1,000 seed + $2,500/year | ~$76,000 |

| $1,000 seed + $5,000/year (max) | ~$154,000 |

These are estimates at a 6% average annual return. The market doesn't move in a straight line, and past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

At 18, the account converts to a traditional IRA on January 1 of the year your child turns 18. A balance of ~$150,000 left invested at 6% could grow to over $1 million by age 60. See how much will $1,000 grow over 18 years for a deeper look at the compounding math.

What Your Child Could Receive in Total

It depends on birth date and where you live, but here's how it stacks up:

• $1,000 federal government seed (children born 2025-2028)
• $250 Dell Foundation donation (children 10 and under in qualifying ZIP codes)
• $250 Dalio donation (children in qualifying Connecticut ZIP codes)
• Up to $5,000/year from family and employers

Even if your child doesn't qualify for every source, the family contribution limit means there's always room to build on whatever seed they receive. And if they don't qualify for the federal $1,000, they can still open an account and benefit from tax-deferred growth on everything your family contributes.

Find out exactly what your child qualifies for at investamericaquiz.com.

Have more questions? Here's every question people are asking about Trump Accounts.

This post is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Grifin is not affiliated with the U.S. government or the Invest America program.