Children’s Savings Accounts & Emerging Federal Policy: Opportunities & Implications

Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs) are a powerful driver of financial inclusion and long-term economic opportunity for young people as shown in a growing body research and experience over the past few decades. These programs help families build assets early, cultivate a habit of saving, and lay the groundwork for greater educational and financial success. In fact, research shows that a child with as little as $500 in a CSA is several times more likely to enroll in and complete college than a peer with no savings. Over the past several years, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading has hosted sessions exploring the research behind these programs and the roles that philanthropy has been playing to foster their growth. With passage of H.R. 1 in 2025 establishing 530A accounts, also known as Trump Accounts, there is growing momentum and renewed attention on the critical importance of CSAs, sparking us to return again to this issue.

Join us on February 24, from 3-4:30 p.m. ET, to hear from researchers, practitioners, and public officials who have been shaping, implementing, and studying CSAs across the country. We’ll explore what makes CSAs successful and how states and communities are harnessing their potential to expand opportunity for children growing up in economically challenged families. We will also consider the implications of this new federal program and the potential to align it with existing efforts to further their goals.
We hope you will join us for this timely and important conversation as we explore the potential of wealth-building accounts for children and youth.