Raymond Briscoe
Raymond Briscoe is President of the Verstandig Family Foundation, where he leads the Foundation's strategy, operations, and philanthropic partnerships. Working alongside Founder Grant Verstandig, he helps transform visionary ideas into enduring institutions and collaborations that improve lives and strengthen communities.
Throughout his career, Raymond has been driven by a belief that lasting change happens when philanthropy, education, government, nonprofits, and the private sector unite around a shared purpose. For more than two decades, he has built strategic partnerships that expand opportunity, inspire innovation, and create measurable public impact.
Before joining the Verstandig Family Foundation, Raymond was an educational leader recognized nationally by ACT as a K–12 Champion for advancing innovative programs that prepared students for success in an increasingly technology-driven world. His leadership emphasized entrepreneurship, leadership development, and college and career readiness, reflecting his longstanding commitment to equipping young people with the skills to thrive.
At the Verstandig Family Foundation, Raymond has helped advance several of the Foundation's most significant initiatives. He played a leadership role in supporting the Foundation's landmark $50 million investment in MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, helping bring the Verstandig Pavilion from vision to reality. He also helped guide the Foundation's partnership with the International Spy Museum to create the immersive *Spying Launched a Nation* exhibition, preserving an important chapter of American history through innovative storytelling and education.
Committed to expanding opportunity for the next generation, Raymond helped establish the Foundation's partnership with The Opportunity Network, supporting career readiness and professional pathways for underrepresented and first-generation college students.
Raymond believes philanthropy is at its best when it creates institutions and partnerships that endure far beyond any single gift. Whether advancing healthcare, expanding educational opportunity, preserving history, or strengthening communities, his work is guided by a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and measurable impact that improves lives for generations to come.
Emily Goss
Emily Goss is the Director of Communications and Programs for The Verstandig Family Foundation (VFF). She works closely with the Leadership Team to support VFF’s operations and cross-program collaborations.
Emily has worked extensively in both the private and public sectors; she is an experienced professional with a demonstrated history in policy analysis, research, information synthesis, communications, and program and policy development, implementation, and management. Before joining VFF, Emily worked for Genentech as a Government Affairs Specialist. There, she worked as a key member of the Federal Government Affairs team, supporting the company’s Federal public policy and lobbying objectives through legislative research and monitoring. She further worked to build direct advocacy plans, develop internal and external communications content and prepare briefing materials for executive engagement in policy-related forums.
Emily has a BA in Political Science from Elon University. She resides in Richmond, VA with her family.
Toni Verstandig
Toni Verstandig is the Co-Founder of the Verstandig Family Foundation (VFF). Mrs. Verstandig has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, where she focused on the Middle East, specifically the Israel-Palestinian Conflict and ways to create a pathway to broaden the aperture for enhanced Arab-Israel normalization and support for the two-state solution. She also covered the Arabian Gulf portfolio. In addition, Ms. Verstandig chaired the Aspen Institute’s Middle East Program, which developed several innovative programs, Partners for New Beginning and the Aspen-Abu Dhabi Next-Gen Leadership and Innovation Program.
Mrs. Verstandig is actively engaged in the Washington community. She serves on the National Democratic Institute Board, the University of Denver’s Korbel Graduate School for International Affairs, the National Cryptologic Foundation, the Institute of Peace’s International Advisory Board, and the Risk and Return Foundation. She recently completed a 20 year-Board tenure at Children’s National Hospital, where she was Chair of the Children’s National Hospital Foundation and served on the Parent Board and the Center For Global Development as Chair of the Nomination & Governance Subcommittee.
She graduated from Boston University and received an Honorary Doctorate from Seton Hill University. She is married to The Honorable Lee L. Verstandig
