Amir Kirkwood

Amir Kirkwood is a leader in community development finance and climate equity, with more than two decades of experience at the intersection of economic justice and environmental resilience. Kirkwood serves as the founding chief executive officer of the Justice Climate Fund, where he leads the organization's efforts to implement the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator program, a key initiative of the Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

The Justice Climate Fund is a coalition of 28 members focused on ensuring that communities most affected by environmental challenges benefit from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The organization mobilizes capital and resources to strengthen under-resourced communities, funding projects that provide clean energy, support cleaner air and water, improve public health, and build economic and environmental resilience in communities across the United States.

Kirkwood's career in community development finance began at an affordable housing development company, where he gained firsthand experience in financing and building affordable housing in major cities. He later held roles in the financial sector, including as a director in Citigroup's Municipal Securities Division, where he managed origination with municipal agencies, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), intermediary lenders, community development corporations, and nonprofits. In partnership with Opportunity Finance Network and Calvert Impact Capital, Kirkwood helped create the "Communities at Work Fund, LP," a national $200 million commitment to finance the operating needs of CDFIs.

Kirkwood joined Amalgamated Bank as first vice president for commercial banking, where he was a lead originator for mission-focused lending to nonprofits, CDFIs, impact investment funds, and foundations, completing more than $100 million in approved transactions and originations. He also served as senior advisor to the Amalgamated Foundation, advising on impact finance strategies.

At Opportunity Finance Network, Kirkwood helped raise capital to support long-term financing needs of the CDFI industry and managed $900 million in investments in CDFIs. He subsequently served as president and CEO of Virginia Community Capital, leading community development initiatives before joining the Justice Climate Fund. The Clean Communities Investment Accelerator program provides capital, technical assistance, and advocacy to low-income and distressed communities through partnerships between the EPA, private investors, community lenders, and community-based organizations. The program equips CDFIs and Minority Depository Institution banks with skills, tools, and relationships to deploy green lending for households and businesses in low-income and disadvantaged communities nationwide.

As CEO, Kirkwood is recognized for articulating the need to align financial systems with climate and community equity goals. He is noted for translating complex financial concepts for diverse audiences, emphasizing the importance of technical assistance in working-class, renter, rural, or Indigenous communities to address climate risk and access resources. Kirkwood is engaged in the broader community development ecosystem, serving on boards including Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, Hot Bread Kitchen, ROC USA, Pacific Community Ventures, and the Community Fund Board for Habitat for Humanity New York. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Aurora University and completed graduate studies in economic policy management at Columbia University.