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Susan Dell’s recent White House appearance turned plenty of heads, and the internet certainly had thoughts. But while everyone else was busy dissecting the optics, we were looking at a different number: $6.25 billion. Now that’s something worth talking about.
In December 2025, Susan Dell and her husband, Michael (yes, that Dell, as in Dell computers), pledged $6.25 billion to provide $250 deposits to 25 million children through federal Section 530A accounts, better known as Trump Accounts. That’s a significant investment, and one worth celebrating.
But there’s a difference between helping children start saving and helping families build generational wealth.
| 530A Accounts | Colorado Baby Bonds (Proposed) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who benefits? | $1,000 federal deposits for eligible children born from 2025-28; $250 from the Dells for 25 million eligible older children. | Models range from children born with Medicaid coverage to all Colorado newborns. |
| Where does the money come from? | Federal seed money, plus optional contributions from families, employers and philanthropists. | Public investment designed so families don’t have to contribute. |
| What’s the goal? | Give children a head start on saving and investing. | Build lasting wealth and help close racial and economic wealth gaps. |
A $250 deposit is a start. But generational wealth requires something more intentional.
Our recently released Colorado Baby Bonds Feasibility Study found that an initial public investment of $3,200 could grow to approximately $7,334 by age 18.
That’s money a young adult could put toward college, a first home or starting a business. More importantly, it’s the seed of something bigger: assets that can grow, create economic stability and potentially be passed down to future generations.
Unlike 530A accounts, whose long-term growth can depend heavily on additional family contributions, Baby Bonds could intentionally direct meaningful investments toward children with the fewest resources.
As CFI’s Esther Turcios and Blair Bacon explain in their recent article for The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy, Born to Build: How Baby Bonds Could Change Colorado’s Future, Baby Bonds could help narrow Colorado’s racial wealth gaps and create opportunities for families historically excluded from wealth-building.
In fact, among the policies researchers modeled, 530A accounts produced the smallest reduction in wealth gaps.
The takeaway? We can applaud the Dells’ generosity while recognizing that philanthropy alone cannot solve generations of unequal access to wealth.
Colorado has an opportunity to build something better.
Join the Colorado Wealth Building Coalition and help turn Baby Bonds into reality. We’re bringing together advocates, organizations and community members committed to giving more Colorado children a foundation for lasting prosperity.
To get involved, contact Esther Turcios at turcios@coloradofiscal.org.
Because every child deserves more than a savings account. They deserve a chance to build wealth.
