Hilary Meyer: Redefining Impact in Professional Sports
Hilary Meyer has always had a heart for civic leadership.
When she was graduating from Colgate University — where she played both field hockey and lacrosse — her grandfather offered a well-intentioned piece of advice: “You could do something that makes a lot of money, and then you can donate to people doing that kind of work.”
“It was such a grandfatherly thing to say — hoping I’d do well financially,” Meyer said. “But that just wasn’t where my heart was. I’ve always wanted to be in the mix, doing the hard work of trying to create a better world.”
Now, as Chief Impact and Athlete Engagement Officer at Athletes Unlimited, Meyer leads one of the most distinctive missions in professional sports. Her work helps shape how AU shows up in the world — from athlete-led philanthropy to fan engagement, community partnerships, and sustainability initiatives.
Meyer began working in the mental health field right out of college, but later realized she wanted to make a broader systemic impact.
“I went to law school, realizing that I wanted to look at more, really broader, systemic change opportunities and advocacy. My heart was always in the place of wanting to help and make a difference,” she said.
Meyer’s legal path included work for Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, and a nonprofit focused on LGBTQ+ elders, where she led advocacy efforts and national provider trainings centered on equity and care for over a decade.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Meyer came across a job listing for an impact-related role at Athletes Unlimited. It immediately sparked her interest as a next step in her career.
She was drawn to AU’s model — which places athletes at the center of decision-making — and is structured in a way few leagues are.
“Interestingly, Athletes Unlimited is the only professional sports league to be incorporated as a public benefit corporation,” Meyer said. “That, in and of itself, is pretty monumental.”
Through the Athlete Causes program, players at AU dedicate their seasons to a nonprofit of their choice. Each athlete creates a campaign page to raise awareness, and the league matches their win bonus with a donation to that organization at the end of the season, offering both visibility and financial support to causes that matter most to the athletes.
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Meyer believes the leadership athletes show through these initiatives translates well beyond the playing field.
“There’s a lot of parallels,” she said. “There’s a statistic from a study that EY had commissioned a few years back that something like 90% of female executives played a sport at some point in their lives… The sort of teamwork and the building of a shared mission and values with teammates, I think, translates really easily into leadership in other ways as well.”
That connection is part of what makes AU’s Civic Leadership Award meaningful to Meyer and her team.
“It really matters to Athletes Unlimited to showcase these athletes as leaders in their communities, and to hopefully inspire others to continue their own work in their own communities,” she said. “The ones that are really working hard to do something outside of their sport — it’s really important to showcase.”
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Through fan-facing campaigns like Power In My Voice, AU also gives fans a window into the books and mentors that have inspired athletes along their journeys. Other initiatives include a fan equipment drive in partnership with Leveling the Playing Field and a sustainable giveaway campaign that replaces wasteful promo items with thoughtfully sourced gear.
“A lot of athletes say AU has re-sparked their love of the game,” Meyer said. “They talk about the community they find here and how supported they feel. Our caregiving work — helping athletes be both parents and pros — is a big piece of that. Athletes come out of a season with 40 new close friends and feeling like they’ve gained something truly special.”
Looking ahead, Meyer hopes AU’s model becomes a lasting example for the entire industry.
“If fans are watching, sponsors and networks will follow,” she said. “I hope we become ubiquitous — and that this athlete-centered, values-driven model we’re building becomes something that thrives across leagues worldwide.”
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
