$7 billion given, now $75 million more: Ray and Barbara Dalio, parents of Lifestyles Magazine / Meaningful Influence cover subject Paul Dalio, join Susan and Michael Dell’s $250-per-child gift for children

Ray and Barbara Dalio, through Dalio Philanthropies, announced today that they are joining the Dell family in seeding the new Trump Administration investment accounts with an additional $250 per child for approximately 300,000 children in Connecticut.

Following the Dell model, the funds are initially targeted to children under 10 living in Connecticut zip codes with median incomes below $150,000.

Inspired by Ray’s personal start as a young investor and Barbara’s decades of experience working closely with at-risk and disconnected young people in Connecticut’s schools, the Dalios see this commitment as a natural extension of their efforts to provide equal opportunity and are excited to help catalyze Secretary Bessent’s “50 State Challenge” in support of the state they call home.

“Barbara and I believe strongly in the importance of equal opportunity and believe this initiative is an important step in that direction,” said Ray Dalio. “I have lived the American Dream. At an early age, I was exposed to the stock market, and it changed my life. By providing children with savings accounts that compound over time, we are providing them with early insights into financial literacy and a path towards financial independence. I applaud President Trump, Secretary Bessent, Michael Dell, and many others who have spearheaded this initiative. I am hopeful other philanthropists will join in this effort to help close the opportunity gap by contributing in their home states. As we enter the holidays, I can think of no better gift than the gift of opportunity.”

Over the last two decades, Barbara Dalio has devoted herself to supporting public schools, teachers, and youth-serving organizations in Connecticut, working in a bipartisan way with the state and with local municipalities.

“Spending time in Connecticut schools and with our young people, I’ve seen firsthand the spirit of our youth. They have a lot stacked against them and we need to give young people a better chance for success. By helping them invest early and emphasizing financial literacy, in a small way, we can hopefully provide them with a better chance,” Barbara Dalio added.

To date, the Dalio family and Dalio Philanthropies have collectively donated over $280 million to nonprofit causes and organizations in Connecticut, including public schools and educational institutions, arts and cultural institutions, libraries and historical centers, food banks and shelters, parks, and other community organizations.

This is Dalio Philanthropies’ second initiative in partnership with the Dell family. In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, the Dalios purchased 60,000 laptops supplied by Dell to support children who would not otherwise have access to virtual education.

During that time, the Dalios also provided childcare grants to support more than 1,000 children of health workers across Connecticut and secured protective gear for community hospitals when it was otherwise unavailable.

Outside of Connecticut, Dalio Philanthropies works nationwide to provide equal opportunity in health care, education, and microfinance because the Dalios believe that these are fundamental building blocks of a just society.

In 2021, they helped found the Dalio Center for Health Justice at New York-Presbyterian Hospital with a $50 million grant, and they were instrumental in launching Grameen America, which has now provided more than $6 billion in loans to American small-business entrepreneurs.

To date, Dalio Philanthropies has provided over $127 million in grants and impact investments to support economic empowerment.

The Dalios are signatories of the Giving Pledge and have contributed more than 7 billion dollars to Dalio Philanthropies for charitable distribution.