Awesome thank you guys! I'm trying to get my friend back into the game. He quit after realizing that he has to grind, so I wanted to send him some credits to get a better ship so maybe he can change his mind. But since you can't just give money away, I think this will be the quickest way. I will try dividend missions!
No they're not missions.
Trade Dividends are paid out on standard commodities trading. Nothing to do with missions what so ever but they can be lucrative once you've gained a handle on how the economy works in Elite Dangerous.
I once did a trade CG where we were transporting goods. I was in a Python at the time. I linked up with a T7 and a Viper 3 who were playing together. The T7 and I hauled the bulk of the goods while the Viper flew escort. If the T7 got interdicted they'd drop with us following in. The Viper played the fast interdictor keeping them off the T7 while I was heavy support in the Python.
Since the Viper didn't have much cargo most of their money was made off the Trade Dividends when the T7 and I unloaded our cargo. They also got the most of their money off the bounties we made along the way.
When a player unloads their commodities cargo, they get full value. If there is another player in the wing, the station will calculate the total value of the goods sold and then give all other players in a wing a voucher for 20% WITHOUT penalizing the seller. This counts for everyone. So depending on the ship types and cargo available, you can make 160% of the value of a commodity with a full wing of players in coordination.
Mining can also be lucrative this way. One ship can be the large mining barge while the rest play combat escorts. Every so often the large ship can 'vent' fully processed cargo for it's combat escorts to haul so they can get a cut. When everyone's cargo hold is full, everyone returns to base. The mining barge get's it full load sold and the combat ships can get paid triple over for the dividends, bounties for intercepting and killing pirates, as well as selling their cargo obtained from the barge. This is how HAZREZ sites were meant to work since they have the highest concentration of the rarest and most expensive goods. With no cops to show up, players have to defend themselves.
I'd be more then happy to give you and your friend an in-game demonstration on how it all works if necessary but part of the fun is learning how it works yourselves.