Brad Gerstner Foundation Funded Indiana Child Accounts
The foundation provided $250 gifts to children born in Indiana during 2023 and 2024 to fill a federal eligibility gap.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Brad Gerstner Family Foundation has launched an initiative to contribute $250 to Trump Accounts for over 140,000 Indiana children born in 2023 and 2024. This program addresses an eligibility gap for families with a median income of $150,000 or less who were born before the federal start date.
Why it matters
The gift ensures that children born prior to the federal Trump Account program launch on January 1, 2025, can still benefit from seed funding. By providing these initial contributions, the foundation aims to put these accounts on a long-term trajectory toward significant financial growth.
The foundation covers children in ZIP codes with a median family income of $150,000 or less, with projections suggesting these accounts could grow to over $860,000 by retirement. The gift follows a $6.25 billion commitment from Michael and Susan Dell for national accounts.
The players
Brad Gerstner
He is the founder of the family foundation providing the $250 contributions to children in Indiana.
Michael and Susan Dell
They are philanthropists who committed $6.25 billion to help seed national Trump Account programs.
Ray and Barbara Dalio
They are philanthropists who previously funded a similar $250-per-child program for 300,000 children in Connecticut.
US Department of the Treasury
This federal agency is responsible for initiating the Trump Accounts for eligible children.
The details
Families in Indiana can enroll eligible children through the federal Trump Accounts portal or the dedicated mobile app. The program is designed to supplement the official government-initiated accounts by retroactively supporting families whose children were born just before the January 2025 federal eligibility threshold.
Timeline
Children born in 2023 and 2024 are eligible for the foundation contribution.
The federal Trump Account seed program began on January 1, 2025.
Michael and Susan Dell announced a $6.25 billion commitment in December 2025.
Brad Gerstner announced the foundation gift on September 22, 2026.
The U.S. Treasury initiates the remaining eligible accounts in late 2026.
Market Landscape
Private philanthropic commitments are increasingly being used to bridge the gap in federal programs like the Trump Account seed contribution. These high-profile initiatives position private foundations as essential partners in scaling national financial inclusion efforts against similar state-level precedents.
Eligible Indiana families can now access $250 in seed funding by enrolling their children through the federal portal or mobile app. This contribution provides an early financial boost that may lead to significant savings growth by the time the child reaches age 18 or beyond.
The takeaway
The addition of private foundation gifts allows families to benefit from early investment despite missing the federal eligibility cutoff date. Parents should verify their local ZIP code income status to confirm eligibility for these specific foundation-backed contributions.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's philanthropic efforts at Indiana Philanthropy.
More information
To enroll your child or check eligibility requirements, visit the Trump Accounts eligibility and enrollment portal.
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