From left to right: David Eisenbud, Director, MSRI; Marilyn Simons and James Simons; Henry Laufer and Marsha Laufer; Hélène Barcelo, Deputy Director, MSRI; and Tatiana Toro, Director-Elect, MSRI.

Dear friends,

We are pleased to announce that earlier today, at our annual Academic Sponsors’ Meeting, the Board of Trustees of Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) announced a transformational and unrestricted $70 million gift from two families and long- time MSRI supporters. The gift represents the largest endowment ever made to a U.S.-based institute dedicated to mathematics, and it significantly advances MSRI’s current endowment campaign goal of $100 million.

The donors – James and Marilyn Simons and Henry and Marsha Laufer – believe deeply in the mission and strategic vision of MSRI and have each committed $35 million to support the institute’s community-driven programs and initiatives both in Berkeley, where it is located, and worldwide. 

We have significantly evolved and grown as an institute since our founding in 1982, and so much more will be able to happen with these resources, for and with the math community. 

This unrestricted gift and the many others that are part of our endowment campaign will provide new programs, better support for researchers, and long term stability in funding. We are deeply grateful to the Simons and the Laufers for this generous endowment gift.

What follows are excerpts from a formal press release on the announcement, which will be distributed broadly tomorrow morning.

Dr. James H. Simons is a renowned mathematician, philanthropist and investor,