Kids Investing Programs: The Free Money Your Child May Already Qualify For (2026)
The $1,000 federal seed, the Dell $250, employer matches and state 529 grants: what exists, who qualifies, and how to claim it.
Key takeaways
- Eligible children born 2025 through 2028 can get a $1,000 federal seed in a Trump Account, but a parent has to claim the account for it to be deposited.
- Per Invest America, children born 2016 through 2024 in ZIP codes with a median family income of $117,300 or less received $250 from the Dell pledge automatically.
- States including California, Maine, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Utah, Illinois, Nebraska and Nevada seed 529 accounts for kids, and some require a claim before a deadline.
Your child may already have money waiting in an account you've never opened. A federal program, a large private pledge and more than a dozen state programs put free money into kids' investment and college accounts. Some deposit it automatically. Others only pay if you claim it, and a few have deadlines. Here's what exists as of October 2026 and how to collect it.
The federal program: Trump Accounts
A Trump Account is a federal investment account for children. Contributions opened on July 4, 2026.
- The $1,000 seed. U.S.-citizen children with a Social Security number born from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028 can get a one-time $1,000 deposit from the Treasury.
- It has to be claimed. In the fall of 2026 the Treasury opened accounts automatically for most children under 18 with a Social Security number. An account opened that way still needs a parent to claim it, through the official Trump Accounts app or website or with IRS Form 4547, before the $1,000 is deposited for an eligible baby.
- Family and employer money. Up to $5,000 a year can go in from all contributors combined, including up to $2,500 from a parent's employer. Withdrawals generally aren't allowed before the year the child turns 18.
The Dell $250 deposits
Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to put $250 into Trump Accounts for up to 25 million children. According to Invest America, the nonprofit running the program, eligibility was finalized as:
- Children born from 2016 through 2024, so too old for the federal $1,000.
- Living in a ZIP code where the median family income is $117,300 or less. It's the ZIP code that counts, not your household's income.
Deposits started at the end of August 2026 and, per Invest America, were completed on October 9, 2026. No form was needed. If your child qualified, the $250 is in their Trump Account, but you have to claim the account to see the balance or add to it.
Employer matches
The Treasury says more than 50 companies have committed to contribute to their employees' children's Trump Accounts. Many match the $1,000 federal seed for eligible babies, and the terms vary. If you have a child born in 2025 or later, ask your HR or benefits team whether your employer offers one.
State seed programs for babies and young kids
Several states put money into a 529 college account for children born or living there. Amounts are small, but they're free and they compound for years. Some of the larger ones:
| State and program | Amount | Who qualifies | Automatic? |
|---|---|---|---|
| California, CalKIDS | $100, plus $25 for claiming online and $50 for linking a ScholarShare 529 | California newborns born on or after July 1, 2023. Low-income public school students get $500. | Deposited automatically; register to claim it |
| Maine, Alfond Grant | $500 | Babies born in 2013 or later whose mother was a Maine resident at the birth | Yes; must be used by age 28 |
| Pennsylvania, Keystone Scholars | $100 | Children born to Pennsylvania residents in 2019 or later | Created automatically; claim it online |
| Colorado, CollegeInvest First Step | $121 for claims made in 2026, plus a match on contributions up to $500 a year | Children born or adopted in Colorado on or after January 1, 2020 | No; claim by the 8th birthday |
| Utah, my529 incentiFive | Up to $929 over five years | Babies born September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026 with a Utah-resident parent; family contributes at least $100 a year | No; sign up by December 31, 2026 |
| Illinois, First Steps | $50 | Children born or adopted on or after January 1, 2023 | No; claim before the 10th birthday |
| Nebraska, Meadowlark | $50 | Children born in Nebraska in 2020 or later | Yes |
| Nevada, College Kick Start | $50 | Kindergartners in Nevada public and charter schools | Yes, through the school |
| Connecticut, Baby Bonds | $3,200 invested by the state | Children born on or after July 1, 2023 whose birth was covered by HUSKY (Medicaid) | Yes; usable from 18 to 30 for approved uses |
Smaller and one-off programs exist too. South Carolina's PalmettoBaby grant gives $529 to babies born on May 29 (529 Day) whose parents apply. Massachusetts, Connecticut and others offer $50 to $100 for opening a state 529 within a year of birth. Programs change and some have funding limits, so confirm the current rules on your state's 529 plan website. Your state's 529 tax rules are in 529 tax benefits by state.
Matching grants for lower-income families
A few states match what families save in a 529 when household income is below a limit. Kansas's K.I.D.S. program, for example, matches contributions dollar for dollar for households under 200% of the federal poverty level, with a cap on participants. Look for "matching grant" on your state plan's site.
Free programs that teach kids to invest
Some parents searching for "kids investing programs" mean education, not money. These are free or widely sponsored:
- Junior Achievement runs free K-12 programs taught by business volunteers in schools.
- The Stock Market Game, from the SIFMA Foundation, has students in grades 4 to 12 manage a virtual $100,000 portfolio, often sponsored for classrooms.
- Next Gen Personal Finance offers free middle and high school curricula.
- FDIC Money Smart for Young People has free lessons from pre-K to grade 12, plus a parent guide.
At home, the by-age guide to teaching investing covers what to say at each stage.
Where MemoryBank fits
Claim everything and your child can end up with a Trump Account, a state-seeded 529 and maybe a custodial account, each at a different institution. MemoryBank connects the accounts you've already opened and shows your child all of them in one kid-friendly view.
Program details are as each program described them in October 2026 and can change. Confirm eligibility and deadlines with the program before relying on them. MemoryBank isn't affiliated with any program listed. MemoryBank is not a brokerage. It cannot receive, keep or transfer securities.
Frequently asked questions
What free money can my child get for investing?
Eligible children born from 2025 through 2028 can get a $1,000 federal seed in a Trump Account if a parent claims it. Many children born from 2016 through 2024 received $250 from the Dell pledge, and several states, including California, Maine, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Utah, Illinois, Nebraska and Nevada, seed 529 accounts for kids born or living there.
Is the $1,000 Trump Account deposit automatic?
No. The Treasury opened accounts automatically for most children with a Social Security number in fall 2026, but a parent still has to claim the account through the official Trump Accounts app or website, or elect the deposit with IRS Form 4547, before the $1,000 goes in for an eligible child born 2025 through 2028.
Who qualified for the Dell $250?
According to Invest America, children born from 2016 through 2024 living in a ZIP code with a median family income of $117,300 or less. The deposits were automatic and, per Invest America, completed on October 9, 2026. You need to claim your child's Trump Account to see the money.
Which states give free money for a baby's 529?
As of October 2026, examples include California (CalKIDS), Maine (Alfond Grant, $500), Pennsylvania (Keystone Scholars, $100), Colorado (First Step), Utah (incentiFive, up to $929 with family contributions), Illinois (First Steps, $50), Nebraska (Meadowlark, $50) and Nevada (College Kick Start, $50). Rules and deadlines vary, so check your state's 529 plan site.
What are good investing programs for kids to learn?
Free options include Junior Achievement's school programs, the SIFMA Foundation's Stock Market Game, Next Gen Personal Finance's curricula, and the FDIC's Money Smart for Young People lessons, which include a parent guide.
Can I see my child's Trump Account and 529 in MemoryBank?
MemoryBank connects accounts you've already opened and shows your child their balances together in one kid-friendly view. It doesn't open accounts, claim programs, or hold or move money.
What to do this week
- If your child was born in 2025 or later, claim their Trump Account and the $1,000.
- If your child was born 2016 through 2024, claim their Trump Account to see whether the Dell $250 arrived.
- Search your state's 529 plan site for "seed," "grant" or "match," and note any claim deadline.
- Ask your employer whether it contributes to employees' children's Trump Accounts.
Written by Josh Ackerman
Founder of MemoryBank. A computer scientist and M.B.A. with 20+ years of investing and technology experience, Josh built the first MemoryBank in his basement so his three kids could watch their own accounts grow. More about Josh →
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Related guides
Trump Accounts: How to Claim Your Child's $1,000 (2026 Update)
$1,000 federal seed for kids born 2025-2028. Updated for the fall 2026 auto-enrollment: how to claim, the contribution window, and what happens at 18.
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MemoryBank is a display and education tool, not a financial advisor. Nothing here is investment, tax, or legal advice. Verify program details with the IRS, your tax advisor, or a licensed financial professional before making decisions.