Treasury Establishes Path for Stock Donations to Trump Accounts

The U.S. Treasury Department said Thursday that individuals and corporations will be allowed to donate shares of publicly traded stock to Trump Accounts, the government-backed investment vehicles for newborns and young children founded under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Contributors can transfer publicly traded shares to the Treasury, which will then send the stock to eligible Trump Accounts “consistent with the donor’s instructions, applicable law, and Treasury guidance,” the department said.

“Today’s announcement makes it easier for philanthropists to help American children build long-term financial security,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “By accepting contributions of publicly traded stock, Treasury is creating a practical pathway for large-scale private giving to support the next generation.” 

The accounts are scheduled to launch on Saturday in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. The federal government will contribute $1,000 to accounts for eligible children born between 2025 and 2028. Millions of families have already signed up. Only 1.4 million, however, currently qualify for the federal seed money.

Parents or guardians can open accounts through a one-page Internal Revenue Service form, Form 4547. The adult who creates the account is tasked with setting it up and overseeing investments while the child is a minor. 

The funds increase tax-deferred and come with fewer restrictions on use than many other savings or education plans, albeit with less favorable tax treatment. Earnings are generally not taxed until the account holder turns 18, though states such as California have opted not to defer taxes on the accounts.

The Treasury outlined on Wednesday the available investments. All contributions at first go into a default low-cost index fund, the State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF. 

Additional options include other S&P 500 and broad total U.S. stock market exchange-traded funds from Vanguard and iShares. These offer diversified exposure to American equities at low costs.

Donating stock directly through the Treasury is a distinct feature, creating a structured route for private parties to contribute equity holdings instead of cash.

Billionaire Michael Dell and his wife, Susan, have pledged billions to help seed accounts for millions of additional children up to age 10 and living in certain ZIP codes.

Families can contribute up to $5,000 per year to each account in a structure combining a federal seed contribution for qualifying newborns with private additions and now, via the Treasury, the option for stock donations from individuals and companies. Account holders can access the funds at age 18. 

The program is available to U.S. citizen children with Social Security numbers. The $1,000 federal contribution is limited to those born in the 2025–2028 window, but accounts can be opened for children under 18.