Couple’s Ties to Stony Brook Prompt $150-Million Gift to the University

How much: $150-million

Who gave it: Jim and Marilyn Simons. Mr. Simons is the founder and chair of Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund in East Setauket, N.Y.

Who got it: State University of New York at Stony Brook

Donors’ relationship to the university: Mr. Simons led the university’s mathematics department from 1968 to 1976; he was also chairman of the Stony Brook Foundation. Ms. Simons earned bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in economics from Stony Brook. Before this gift, the couple had committed more than $150-million to the university.

What the gift will support: One-third of the donation will pay for a medical-research building; another third will finance efforts to attract new life sciences faculty; and the rest will create 35 endowed professorships and provide aid to students.

How the gift came about: Mr. Simons served on the search committee that hired the university’s president, Samuel L. Stanley. Even before he took office in 2009, Dr. Stanley discussed with Mr. Simons his ideas about how Stony Brook could bolster its reputation. After he became president, Dr. Stanley put together a proposal for the couple.

Why the donors gave: To help the institution become a top-ranked research university.

For details about other new gifts, including $11-million to Yale University, go to http://philanthropy.com/topdonors. Send gift news to gifts@philanthropy.com.