Amir Kirkwood is President and CEO of Locus, a statewide community development financial institution based in Richmond, VA. Locus is a nonprofit loan fund and a for-profit bank providing financing and technical assistance in support of small businesses, affordable housing, healthy food access, and clean energy. Its subsidiary, LOCUS Impact Investing, is a national nonprofit consultancy and mission-driven investment advisory firm.
Amir has more than 20 years of banking and economic development finance experience. Prior to joining Locus, he served Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) as Chief Investment and Network Officer. Amir was responsible for management of all membership related operations including investment portfolio management, membership services, peer learning, and programs and research. Amir helped the firm raise capital to support long term financing needs of the CDFI industry and was responsible for management of OFN’s $900 million of investments in CDFIs. He was a member of the Investment Committee and Credit Review Committee where he assisted the firm in risk and portfolio management.
Prior to his role with OFN, Kirkwood served as First Vice President for Commercial Banking at Amalgamated Bank, where he worked as lead originator for mission-focused lending to nonprofits, CDFIs, impact investment funds, and foundations. Also serving as Senior Advisor to the Amalgamated Foundation, he advised nonprofits, CDFIs, and investment funds on impact finance strategies.
Amir is actively engaged in several volunteer activities that support community and economic development. He sits on several boards, including the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, Hot Bread Kitchen, ROC USA, Pacific Community Ventures, and the Community Fund Board for Habitat for Humanity New York. Amir holds a B.A. in Political Science from Aurora University and completed graduate studies in economic policy management at Columbia University.