RYAN CARLIN
Hanover,MD
Summary
Mission-driven nonprofit executive with 19 years of senior leadership experience building, scaling, and leading complex, multi-market organizations across the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Proven record of sustained double- and triple-digit revenue growth, enterprise financial stewardship, board partnership, and organizational transformation. Recognized for translating mission into durable growth strategies, aligning boards and executive teams around shared outcomes, and building high-performing leadership cultures. Deep expertise spanning enterprise fundraising, operations, finance, governance, global programs, and executive talent development, with a particular focus on building diversified revenue systems that enable long-term institutional scale and financial resilience.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Founder & Chief Executive
CARLIN MAJOR GIFT SOLUTIONS
10.2022 - Current
- Founded and scaled a national nonprofit advisory firm delivering enterprise growth, revenue transformation, and executive leadership support to mission-driven organizations.
- Generated $8M in new revenue for client organizations, exceeding targets by 1,124%
- Led end-to-end organizational builds, including strategy, finance, operations, HR, marketing, fundraising, and governance.
- Launched multiple major, corporate, foundation, and planned giving departments, scaling from early-stage infrastructure to eight-figure annual outcomes.
- Designed and implemented diversified fundraising architectures for client organizations, integrating major gifts, planned giving, institutional funding, and recurring revenue models.
- Built revenue forecasting frameworks leveraging multi-year pledges and donor pipeline analytics to support executive decision-making and growth planning.
- Served as CEO-level advisor to nonprofit founders and executive teams navigating growth, complexity, and scale.
- Built sustainable revenue engines while strengthening governance, leadership accountability, and financial discipline.
Senior Executive Leadership
THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
06.2006 - 10.2022
Vice President of Development, Midwestern United States
THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
07.2019 - 10.2022
- Executive leader responsible for enterprise revenue strategy, operations, and financial oversight across a multi-state region.
- Exceeded $10.6M revenue target, closing $12M in gross revenue.
- Directed six regional divisions and led a 12-member senior development team.
- Structured multi-year major gift and pledge strategies enabling predictable revenue flow and long-term program expansion across a multi-state region.
- Oversaw regional financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and operational performance.
- Maintained a personal portfolio of 95 high-net-worth donors, reinforcing executive credibility and market trust.
Regional Director of Principal & Major Giving — Italy & Mexico
THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
08.2013 - 07.2019
- Senior executive with expanded authority over revenue, finance, and operations across international regions.
- Raised $13.7M against a $6M target (228% of goal).
- Led cross-border teams and managed regional financial and operational functions.
- Built high-performing cultures through 6,000+ hours of executive coaching and leadership development.
Senior Major & Annual Giving Manager / Acting Vice President (Chicago Region)
THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
09.2010 - 08.2013
- $10.8M raised against a $6M target.
- Served as Acting Vice President of Development for an 18-month period.
- Acting Vice Chair & Secretary of the Board of Advisors, strengthening governance and executive-board alignment.
Earlier Roles: Annual Giving Manager | Donor Relations Representative
THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Progressively promoted based on exceptional performance in revenue growth, donor engagement, and operational leadership.
Education
Master of Science - Ethics
Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum
Bachelor of Science - Theology
Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum
Bachelor of Science - Philosophy
Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum
Associate of Arts - Classical Humanities
Legion of Christ College of Humanities
Skills
- Enterprise Leadership & Governance
- Board Partnership & Governance
- CEO & Founder Advising
- Organizational Design
- Executive Decision-Making
- Change Leadership
- Risk & Compliance
- Crisis Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Revenue Diversification
- P&L Management
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Cash Flow Oversight
- KPI & Performance Management
- Major & Principal Gifts
- Capital Campaigns
- Planned Giving
- Corporate & Foundation Partnerships
- Brand & Donor Experience Strategy
- Global Philanthropy
- Executive Team Leadership
- Talent Development
- Coaching & Mentorship
- Succession Planning
- Performance Management
- Culture Building
- International Operations
- Multicultural Fluency
- Tri-Lingual Leadership
Certification
- Master Certified Professional Coach (MCPC)
- Certified Professional Coach (CPC)
Languages
English (Native)
Spanish (Native)
Italian (Fluent)
Executive Impact Highlights
- $45M+ in cumulative philanthropic revenue generated across major gifts, institutional funding, and multi-channel fundraising systems, including $8M raised in 3 years as Founder/CEO
- 19 consecutive years of year-over-year revenue growth, including 1,124% growth across multiple organizations
- Architected multi-channel fundraising systems integrating major gifts, institutional funding, and recurring donor programs to support long-term revenue predictability and scale
- Executive leadership of organizations and regions exceeding $10M annually, with direct responsibility for budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, and P&L oversight
- Launched or scaled 16 nonprofit organizations or enterprise fundraising functions, frequently extending into operations, finance, HR, marketing, and governance
- Board-facing executive partner, serving as Acting Vice Chair and Secretary of a regional Board of Advisors; trusted advisor to CEOs, founders, and trustees
- Global leadership experience across the U.S., Italy, and Mexico, managing multicultural teams and international donor portfolios
- Exceptional donor retention (97%) and solicitation success (31%), reflecting trust-based leadership and stakeholder alignment
Core Executive Competencies
Board Partnership & Governance, CEO & Founder Advising, Organizational Design, Executive Decision-Making, Change Leadership, Risk & Compliance, Crisis Leadership, Strategic Planning, Revenue Diversification, P&L Management, Budgeting & Forecasting, Cash Flow Oversight, KPI & Performance Management, Major & Principal Gifts, Capital Campaigns, Planned Giving, Corporate & Foundation Partnerships, Brand & Donor Experience Strategy, Global Philanthropy, Executive Team Leadership, Talent Development, Coaching & Mentorship, Succession Planning, Performance Management, Culture Building, International Operations, Multicultural Fluency, Tri-Lingual Leadership (English, Spanish, Italian)
Personal Information
Title: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Timeline
Founder & Chief Executive
CARLIN MAJOR GIFT SOLUTIONS
10.2022 - Current
Vice President of Development, Midwestern United States
THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
07.2019 - 10.2022
Regional Director of Principal & Major Giving — Italy & Mexico
THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
08.2013 - 07.2019
Senior Major & Annual Giving Manager / Acting Vice President (Chicago Region)
THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
09.2010 - 08.2013
Senior Executive Leadership
THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
06.2006 - 10.2022
Earlier Roles: Annual Giving Manager | Donor Relations Representative
THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
01.2006 - 01.2010
Master of Science - Ethics
Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum
Bachelor of Science - Theology
Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum
Bachelor of Science - Philosophy
Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum
Associate of Arts - Classical Humanities
Legion of Christ College of Humanities